Facile construction of N-alkyl arylaminomaleimide derivatives as intensively emissive aggregation induced emission dyes

Novel thiomaleimide-based fluorescent probe with aggregation-induced emission for detecting H2S

It has been well established that Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is involved in various pathophysiological processes. Therefore, accurate monitoring H2S levels in vitro or vivo is of great significance in biological systems. Herein, we firstly developed a thiomaleimide-based compound MAL-1 bearing aggregation-induced emission characteristic for selective response toward H2S due to its nucleophilicity. The proposed sensor presented prominent sensitivity and selectivity with low detection limit of 75 nM and pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant of 9.65 × 10-2 s-1, as well as low cytotoxicity which works well in recognizing H2S in real samples and visualizing H2S in living cells. Thus, it could be concluded that the novel thiomaleimide-based probe would be a promising tool for assessing intracellular H2S levels.

Developing a straightforward route toward the synthesis of arylaminomaleimides by palladium-catalyzed arylation of one-pot synthesized aminomaleimides

3-Aryl-4-aminomaleimides have well-demonstrated applications, such as being used as fluorophores and inhibitors. However, their previous synthesis methods have involved tedious multi-step procedures or methods that need pre-functionalized maleimides and toxic or unstable reagents. Here, a feasible method is developed to synthesize these useful compounds. This includes the one-pot preparation of 3-aminomaleimides, followed by their direct arylation through a palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction with various aryl iodides regioselectively at the β-position of their amine substituents. The results show that this method efficiently exhibits a broad scope.

Synthesis of 2-carboxyaniline-substituted maleimides from 2'-nitrochalcones

A practical, one-pot approach to 3-anilino-4-(het)arylmaleimides by simple heating of aqueous DMSO solution of 2'-nitrochalcones with potassium cyanide in the presence of formic acid has been developed. This new reaction provides effective access to a variety of β-substituted α-aminomaleimides which have recently become a subject of growing interest as small, easily modified and environmentally responsive fluorescent probes.

Syntheses of novel pyridine-based low-molecular-weight luminogens possessing aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) properties

Novel pyridine-based fluorescing compounds, viz. pyrido[1,2-a]pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 3a,b and N-methyl-4-((pyridin-2-yl)amino)maleimides 4a–e, were selectively prepared by a one-pot reaction between a functionalized maleimide and 2-aminopyridines with electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups at position 5 and were investigated photophysically and computationally. The photophysical studies revealed that all the synthesized compounds exhibited fluorescence in organic solvents, while N-methyl-4-((pyridin-2-yl)amino)-substituted maleimide derivatives 4a–e, which are based on an acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–D–A) system, exhibited aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) properties in aqueous media. Compounds 4a and 4e, bearing electron-withdrawing groups (Br and CF₃, respectively) showed 7.0 and 15 times fluorescence enhancement. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations were performed to gain better insight into the electronic nature of the compounds with and without AIEE properties.

Rigidochromism by imide functionalisation of an aminomaleimide fluorophore

Fluorescent dyes that exhibit high solid state quantum yields and sensitivity to the mechanical properties of their local environment are useful for a wide variety of applications, but are limited in chemical diversity. We report a trityl-functionalised maleimide that displays rigidochromic behaviour, becoming highly fluorescent when immobilised in a solid matrix, while displaying negligible fluorescence in solution. Furthermore, the dye's quantum yield is shown to be sensitive to the nature of the surrounding matrix. Computational studies reveal that this behaviour arises from the precise tuning of inter- and intramolecular noncovalent interactions. This work expands the diversity of molecules exhibiting solid state environment sensitivity, and provides important fundamental insights into their design.

Synthetic- and DFT modelling studies on regioselective modified Mannich reactions of hydroxy-KYNA derivatives

The syntheses of hydroxy-substituted kynurenic acid (KYNA) derivatives have been achieved by an optimised Conrad–Limpach procedure. The derivatives were then reacted with morpholine and paraformaldehyde, as a representative amine and aldehyde, in a modified Mannich reaction. The newly introduced substituents altered the preferred reaction centre of the KYNA skeleton. A systematic investigation of substitutions was carried out, using different reaction conditions, resulting in mono- or disubstituted derivatives. Product selectivity and regioselectivity were rationalised by DFT calculations disclosing HOMO distribution and NBO charges on the potential nucleophilic centres in the anion of the appropriate KYNA ester assumed to be active components towards the iminium ion intermediate.

New side of KYNA in modified Mannich reaction – systematic investigation of the reactivity of hydroxylated derivatives rationalised with comparative DFT calculations.

Rational design of substituted maleimide dyes with tunable fluorescence and solvafluorochromism

A series of maleimide derivatives were systematically designed and synthesized with tunable fluorescent properties. The facile modifications herein provide a simple methodology to expand the scope of maleimide-based dyes and also provide insight into the relationship between substitution pattern and optical properties.

Selective synthesis of tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and pyrrolidine derivatives via a one-pot two-step reaction

In the presence of triethylamine, the addition reaction of substituted α-amino acid alkyl esters with dialkyl but-2-ynedioate afforded active β-enamino esters, which in turn reacted with aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile to give tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives in moderate yields.

Color Tuning of the Aggregation-Induced Emission of Maleimide Dyes by Molecular Design and Morphology Control

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active maleimide dyes, namely, 2-p-toluidino-N-p-tolylmaleimide, 3-phenyl-2-toluidino-N-p-tolylmaleimide, 2-p-thiocresyl-3-p-toluidino-N-p-tolylmaleimide, and 2,3-dithiocresyl-N-arylmaleimides, were synthesized by facile synthetic procedures. The dyes show intense emission in the solid state, and emission colors were controlled from green (λmax =527 nm) to orange (λmax =609 nm) by varying the substituents at the 2- and 3-positions of the maleimide and the packing structures in the solid state. 2,3-Disubstituted maleimide dyes effectively underwent redshifts of their emission wavelength. Furthermore, some of the dyes exhibited mechanochromism and polymorphism, and their emission properties were dramatically dependent on the morphology of the solid samples. The mechanisms of the emission behaviors were investigated by X-ray diffraction. The substituent of the nitrogen atom of the maleimide ring affected the intermolecular interactions and short contacts, which were observed by single crystal X-ray crystallography, to result in completely different emission properties.

Effect of alkyl groups on emission properties of aggregation induced emission active N-alkyl arylaminomaleimide dyes

Aggregation induced emission (AIE) active N-alkyl aminomaleimide dyes with various kinds of N-alkyl groups were synthesized in a one pot process.

Synthesis and color tuning of boron diiminate conjugated polymers with aggregation-induced scintillation properties

We report film-type scintillators based on conjugated polymers with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties and the modulation of their scintillation abilities by chemical modification.

Film-type chemosensors based on boron diiminate polymers having oxidation-induced emission properties

We present here the film-type chemosensors based on stimuli-responsive emissive polymers composed of boron diiminate. Hydrogen peroxide can be monitored by the emission enhancement.