Solvent induced distortion in a square planar copper(II) complex containing an azo-functionalized Schiff base: Synthesis, crystal structure, in-vitro fungicidal and anti-proliferative, and catecholase activity

Chelation therapy-inspired design of a water-stable fluorescent probe for the effectual monitoring of copper(II) ions in real water

This work introduces a thought-provoking design to develop a water-soluble chemical probe, sodium 4-hydroxy-3-((E)-((E)-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1yl)methylene)hydrazono)methyl) benzenesulfonate (SW2) and its analytical characterization for the efficient detection and monitoring of Cu2+ ions in a matrix of s-, d-, and f-metal ions in pure water. The water-stable molecular probe, SW2, in the presence of Cu2+ salts in pure water exhibits a fluorescence turn-off characteristic with a high detection limit, 3.8 μM, and irresistibly holds 4-cycle reversibility in the presence of sulphide ions without any significant loss of its chemosensing efficiency. Spectroscopic and computational studies ensure 1 : 1 complexation between SW2 and Cu2+ ions, leading to the formation of SW2-Cu2+ chelate, thus inducing dynamic quenching of SW2 emission, which subsequently reverts on the addition of S2- ions in water. Additionally, the SW2-Cu2+ chelate was isolated in microcrystalline powder and the complexation was studied with mass spectrometry and EPR analysis. Computational analysis reveals the remarkable reduction in the S0-S1 energy level of the SW2-Cu2+ complex, which is attributed to the drastic quenching of the fluorescence intensity. Furthermore, SW2 was successfully applied to the detection of Cu2+ ions in tap and pond water. Interestingly, the probe is also effective for the determination of Cu2+ ions in the aqueous solution of a Cu-based fungicide (copper oxychloride), commercially available as Blitox in India, thus evaluating the effectiveness of SW2 in real sample analysis.

AIE active fluorescent organic nanoparticles based optical detection of Cu2+ ions in pure water: a case of aggregation-disaggregation reversibility

An AIE-active pyrene-terpyridine derivative, (4'-(pyren-1-yl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine) (1) was found to form nanoaggregate in an aqueous medium. The probe involved hydrogen bonding with solvent molecules that modulated the charge transfer behavior and consequently resulted in different spectroscopic behavior due to the formation of fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs). In the presence of Cu2+ ions, FONs displayed a ratiometric red shift of the absorption band (360 to 420 nm) accompanied by a prominent naked-eye color change from colorless to light yellow. With a gradual increase in water content, 1 displayed a huge red shift of the emission band (430 to 475 nm) denoting its switching from monomer to FONs. In the presence of Cu2+, the 475 nm emission band of FONs gradually diminished, facilitating the micromolar scale detection of Cu2+ (LOD = 8.57 μM) in a 100% aqueous medium with a fluorogenic color change from cyan to dark. The SEM and DLS data indicated the cation-induced disaggregation of FONs, which was further confirmed by mass spectral analysis and electron paramagnetic resonance measurement. In addition, the high selectivity of FONs towards Cu2+ ions over other potential cations and the 2 : 1 (1-Cu2+) binding stoichiometry were also determined. Moreover, the spectroscopic behavior of the monomeric amphiphilic probe was well supported by extensive DFT study. Such detection of Cu2+ ions in pure aqueous medium denoting an aggregation-disaggregation event is very rare in the literature.