Thermally stable water insoluble azo-azomethine dyes: synthesis, characterization and solvatochromic properties

Synthesis, spectroscopic and TD-DFT quantum mechanical study of azo-azomethine dyes. A laser induced trans-cis-trans photoisomerization cycle

This paper describes the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and quantum mechanical calculations of three azo-azomethine dyes. The dyes were synthesized via condensation reaction between 4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde and three different 4-aminobenzene azo dyes. Quantum chemical calculations on the optimized molecular geometry and electron densities of the trans (E) and cis (Z) isomers and their vibrational frequencies have been computed by using DFT/B3LYP density-functional theory with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set in vacuo. The thermodynamic parameters such as total electronic energy E (RB3LYP), enthalpy H₂₉₈ (sum of electronic and thermal enthalpies), free Gibbs energy G₂₉₈ (sum of electronic and thermal free Gibbs energies) and dipole moment μ were computed for trans (E) and cis (Z) isomers in order to estimate the ΔE_trans→cis, Δμ_trans→cis,ΔH_trans→cis, ΔG_trans→cis and ΔS_trans→cis values. After molecular geometry optimization the electronic spectra have been obtained by TD-DFT calculations at same basis set and correlated with the spectra of vapour deposited nanosized films of the dyes. The NBO analysis was performed in order to understand the intramolecular charge transfer and energy of resonance stabilization. Solvatochromism was investigated by UV-VIS spectroscopy in five different organic solvents with increasing polarity. The dynamic photoisomerization experiments have been performed in DMF by pump lasers λ=355nm (mostly E→Z) and λ=491nm (mostly Z→E) in spectral region 300nm - 800nm at equal concentrations and times of illumination in order to investigate the photodynamical trans-cis-trans properties of the CHN and NN chromophore groups of the dyes.

Rational Design of Azo-Azomethine Receptors for Sensing of Inorganic Fluoride: Construction of Molecular Logic Gates and DFT Study

New azo-azomethine receptors, HLn (n = 1–3), have been synthesised via condensation reaction of 5-(4-X-phenyl)-azo-salicylaldehyde (X = NO2, Cl and CH3) with (4-nitrobenzylidene)hydrazine. The receptor with a p-NO2 substituent on the aromatic ring of the azo moiety (HL1) has excellent sensitivity and selectivity towards basic anions with proper discrimination between F− and AcO− or H2PO4− in DMSO–water (4 : 1). A Job’s plot displays a 1 : 1 stoichiometry between HL1 and F− alone with a detection limit of 0.737 μM for fluoride ions. The solvatochromic behaviour of HL1 was probed by studying its UV-vis spectra in four pure organic solvents of different polarities and a meaningful correlation was observed. Furthermore, HL1 was used for detection of inorganic fluoride in toothpaste. The systematic density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent-DFT calculations have been carried out to investigate the mechanism of colourimetric sensing of fluoride ion by HL1 in the gas phase and in solution. Moreover, by using F− and H+ as chemical inputs, and the absorbance as output, a INHIBIT logic gate was constructed, which exhibits ‘Write–Read–Erase–Read’ ability without obvious degradation in its optical output.

Azobenzenes and catalysis

Azobenzene is the most extensively used class of chromophore in a large variety of applications.

Rational design of a novel azoimine appended maleonitrile-based Salen chemosensor for rapid naked-eye detection of copper(II) ion in aqueous media

Achieving specific selectivity and high sensitivity for the colorimetric recognition of copper(II) ions in aqueous media over a complex background of potentially competing metal ions is inherently challenging in sensor development. Thus, a novel azo-azomethine receptor (L) based on the combination of 2-amino-3-(5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzylamino)maleonitrile and azo-coupled salicylaldehyde scaffold has been designed and synthesized for the naked-eye and rapid detection of Cu(2+) ion at trace level in a wide pH range. Accordingly, the devised chemosensor distinguished Cu(2+) from other metal ions by distinct color change from light yellow to light brown without any expensive equipment. The binding stoichiometry between Cu(2+) and L has been investigated using Job's plot and MALDI-TOF mass analysis. Remarkably, the current sensor can detect Cu(2+) ions even at 1.07 μM level, which is lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible level (30 μM) in drinking water. Furthermore, sensor L was successfully utilized in the preparation of test strips for the detection of copper(II) ions from aqueous environment.

The triazine-based azo-azomethine dyes; synthesis, characterization, spectroscopy, solvatochromism and biological properties of 2,2'-(((6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diyl)bis(sulfanediyl)bis(2,1-phenylene))bis(azanylylidene)bis(methanylylidene))bis(4-(phenyldiazenyl)phenol)

The macrocyclic azo-azomethine dyes 2,2'-(((6-methoxy-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diyl)bis(sulfanediyl)bis(2,1-phenylene))bis(azanylylidene)bis(methanylylidene))bis(4-(phenyldiazenyl)phenol) and its derivatives were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, mass, FT-IR, UV-vis and NMR spectroscopy. The solvatochromism as well as effects of substitutions on the electronic absorption of these compounds have been studied in the DMSO, DMF, THF, CH3CN, CH3OH and CH3COOH as solvents. Also they positive solvatochromism behaviors are explained on the basis of intramolecular hydrogen bonding, enol-keto tautomeric and dipole moment changes. Compounds having electron donating substituent on the phenyl ring showed good antioxidant activity. However, none of them has a considerable antibacterial activity.

Synthesis, characterization, solvatochromism and biological properties of 2,2'-((1E,1'E)-((1,2,5-oxadiazole-3,4-diyl)bis (azanylylidene))bis(methan-ylylidene))bis(4-(phenyldiazenyl)phenol)

Azo-azomethine dyes 2-((4-amino-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-ylimino)methyl)-4-(phenyl diazenyl)phenols (2a-h) have been synthesized by condensation reaction of 3,4-diamino-1,2,5-oxadiazole with 2-hydroxy-5-[(E)-(aryldiazenyl)]benzaldehyde (1a-h) in methanol. The structures of dyes have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass, IR, UV-Vis, 1H and 13С NMR spectroscopy. UV-Vis absorption spectra indicated enol-keto tautomeric and positive solvatochromism in compounds 2a-h which is dependent on the substitution, solvent, pH and environment temperature. The synthesized compounds were investigated for their in vitro antioxidant activity by diphenylpicrylhydrazyl assay. Compounds substituted with electron donating groups, such as, alkyl and methoxy groups showed moderate antioxidant activity. The in vitro antibacterial activity of all compounds was determined by disk diffusion method. The test compounds showed varying degree of inhibition against B. cereus and S. aureus strains.

Spectroscopic and solvatochromism studies along with antioxidant and antibacterial activities investigation of 2-((2-mercaptophenylimino)methyl)-4-(phenyldiazenyl)phenol

The condensation reaction of 2-hydroxy-5-(aryldiazenyl)benzaldehyde (1a-d) with 2-aminothiophenole affored Schiff base compounds 2-((2-mercaptophenylimino)methyl-4-(-aryldiazenyl)phenol (2a-d). The structures of compounds (2a-d) were characterized by elemental analysis, mass, infrared, UV-vis and NMR spectroscopy. The 2a-d shows enol-keto tautomeric and positive solvatochromism. The antibacterial activities of 2a-d were also evaluated by disc diffusion method. Compound 2b displayed activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, 2a and 2c were active against B. cereus but 2d did not exhibit activity against the tested organisms. Among the tested compounds, 2b showed the best antioxidant properties as evaluated by free radical scavenging activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl and ferric reducing power determination.