Tripodal ionophore with sulfate recognition properties for anion-selective electrodes

Hofmeister Effects Shine in Nanoscience

Hofmeister effects play a crucial role in nanoscience by affecting the physicochemical and biochemical processes. Thus far, numerous wonderful applications from various aspects of nanoscience have been developed based on the mechanism of Hofmeister effects, such as hydrogel/aerogel engineering, battery design, nanosynthesis, nanomotors, ion sensors, supramolecular chemistry, colloid and interface science, nanomedicine, and transport behaviors, etc. In this review, for the first time, the progress of applying Hofmeister effects is systematically introduced and summarized in nanoscience. It is aimed to provide a comprehensive guideline for future researchers to design more useful Hofmeister effects-based nanosystems.

Effect of Ethanol and Urea as Solvent Additives on PSS–PDADMA Polyelectrolyte Complexation

The effect of urea and ethanol additives on aqueous solutions of poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS), poly(diallyldimethylammonium) (PDADMA), and their complexation interactions are examined here via molecular dynamics simulations, interconnected laser Doppler velocimetry, and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. It is found that urea and ethanol have significant, yet opposite influences on PSS and PDADMA solvation and interactions. Notably, ethanol is systematically depleted from solvating the charge groups but condenses at the hydrophobic backbone of PSS. As a consequence of the poorer solvation environment for the ionic groups, ethanol significantly increases the extent of counterion condensation. On the other hand, urea readily solvates both polyelectrolytes and replaces water in solvation. For PSS, urea causes disruption of the hydrogen bonding of the PSS headgroup with water. In PSS–PDADMA complexation, these differences influence changes in the binding configurations relative to the case of pure water. Specifically, added ethanol leads to loosening of the complex caused by the enhancement of counterion condensation; added urea pushes polyelectrolyte chains further apart because of the formation of a persistent solvation shell. In total, we find that the effects of urea and ethanol rise from changes in the microscopic-level solvation environment and conformation resulting from solvating water being replaced by the additive. The differences cannot be explained purely via considering relative permittivity and continuum level electrostatic screening. Taken together, the findings could bear significance in tuning polyelectrolyte materials’ mechanical and swelling characteristics via solution additives.

Highly Efficient, Tripodal Ion-Pair Receptors for Switching Selectivity between Acetates and Sulfates Using Solid-Liquid and Liquid-Liquid Extractions

A tripodal, squaramide-based ion-pair receptor 1 was synthesized in a modular fashion, and ¹H NMR and UV-vis studies revealed its ability to interact more efficiently with anions with the assistance of cations. The reference tripodal anion receptor 2, lacking a crown ether unit, was found to lose the enhancement in anion binding induced by presence of cations. Besides the ability to bind anions in enhanced manner by the “single armed” ion-pair receptor 3, the lack of multiple and prearranged binding sites resulted in its much lower affinity towards anions than in the case of tripodal receptors. Unlike with receptors 2 or 3, the high affinity of 1 towards salts opens up the possibility of extracting extremely hydrophilic sulfate anions from aqueous to organic phase. The disparity in receptor 1 binding modes towards monovalent anions and divalent sulfates assures its selectivity towards sulfates over other lipophilic salts upon liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and enables the Hofmeister bias to be overcome. By changing the extraction conditions from LLE to SLE (solid–liquid extraction), a switch of selectivity from sulfates to acetates was achieved. X-ray measurements support the ability of anion binding by cooperation of the arms of receptor 1 together with simultaneous binding of cations.

Electrochemical Anion Sensing: Supramolecular Approaches

Anions play a vital role in a broad range of environmental, technological, and physiological processes, making their detection/quantification valuable. Electroanalytical sensors offer much to the selective, sensitive, cheap, portable, and real-time analysis of anion presence where suitable combinations of selective (noncovalent) recognition and transduction can be integrated. Spurred on by significant developments in anion supramolecular chemistry, electrochemical anion sensing has received considerable attention in the past two decades. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of all electroanalytical techniques that have been used for this purpose, including voltammetric, impedimetric, capacititive, and potentiometric methods. We will confine our discussion to sensors that are based on synthetic anion receptors with a specific focus on reversible, noncovalent interactions, in particular, hydrogen- and halogen-bonding. Apart from their sensory properties, we will also discuss how electrochemical techniques can be used to study anion recognition processes (e.g., binding constant determination) and will furthermore provide a detailed outlook over future efforts and promising new avenues in this field.

Anion binding and fluoride ion induced conformational changes in bisurea receptors

Two types of bisurea receptors, containing either 2,6-substituted phenyl or 2,6-substituted pyridine, are prepared, and their anion binding properties are investigated.

Anthracene-based fluorescence turn-on chemodosimeter for the recognition of persulfate anion

A fluorescence turn-on chemodosimeter that recognizes persulfate anion in the presence of other competitive anions or cations in the UV-visible region has been developed.

Binding studies and anion-selective electrodes with neutral isophthalamide-based receptors

The incorporation of neutral and structurally simple isophthalamide-based receptors into plasticised polymeric membrane anion-selective electrodes has afforded devices with a good sensing ability.

Squaramide-based tripodal ionophores for potentiometric sulfate-selective sensors with high selectivity

A class of squaramide-based tripodal molecules was employed as new ionophores for highly sensitive and selective sulfate-selective sensors.

Sulphate-selective optical microsensors: overcoming the hydration energy penalty

Novel membrane-free chemically modified polystyrene microspheres for the optical detection of sulphate in aqueous media are introduced.

Recent advances in H2PO4− fluorescent sensors

The recent advances in H₂PO₄⁻ fluorescent sensors were thoroughly reviewed.

Immobilization of tris(2 pyridyl) methylamine in a PVC-Membrane Sensor and Characterization of the Membrane Properties

Background

Due to the increasing industrial use of titanium compounds, its determination is the subject of considerable efforts. The ionophore or membrane active recognition is the most important component of any polymeric membrane sensor. The sensor’s response depends on the ionophore and bonding between the ionophore and the target ion. Ionophores with molecule-sized dimensions containing cavities or semi-cavities can surround the target ion. The bond between the ionophore and target ion gives different selectivity and sensitivity toward the other ions. Therefore, ionophores with different binding strengths can be used in the sensor.

Results

In the present work, poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) based membrane incorporating tris (2 pyridyl) methylamine (tpm) as an ionophore has been prepared and explored as a titanium(III) selective sensor.

Conclusions

The strengths of the ion–ionophore (Ti(OH)²⁺-tpm) interactions and the role of ionophore on membrane were tested by various techniques such as elemental analysis, UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). All data approved the successful incorporation of organic group via covalent bond.

Recognition and separation of sulfate anions

This tutorial review focuses on some recent aspects in the development of synthetic receptors for selective sulfate anion recognition and separation, with a special emphasis to: (i) receptors for selective recognition of sulfate in organic and aqueous media and (ii) receptors for separation of sulfate from water via liquid-liquid extraction and crystallization.

Cryptand-like anion receptors

The design of supramolecular hosts for anions began with simple diaza bicycles, named katapinands, and has evolved over the last 40 years to a number of elegantly designed receptors capable of binding many different anions. About the same time the term cryptand appeared in reference to another bicyclic compound that was selective for alkaline-earth ions. Since the first report these simple bicycles, a vast arena of hosts has appeared, including acyclic, monocyclic, and other multicyclic supramolecular receptors. Studies of these systems have revealed considerable information about anion coordination chemistry, including the fact that many of these complexes mimic their transition-metal corollaries in terms of coordination numbers. However, for anions interactions occur via H-bonding most often, rather than the coordinate covalent or dative bonds observed in transition-metal coordination. This critical review examines the design of enclosed, primarily bicyclic cryptands as hosts for anions, with a small scattering of higher polyhedra when deemed appropriate to the discussion. In order to show the development (evolution) of the field, key examples of early work will be noted and compared with more recent developments (136 references).

The squaramide versus urea contest for anion recognition

The interaction of a neutral squaramide-based receptor, equipped with two 4-nitrophenyl substituents (R(sq)), with halides and oxoanions has been studied in MeCN. UV/Vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy titration experiments clearly indicated the formation of 1:1 hydrogen bonding [R(sq)X](+) complexes with all the investigated anions. X-ray diffraction studies on the chloride and bromide complex salts confirmed the 1:1 stoichiometry and indicated the establishment of bifurcated hydrogen-bond interactions between the squaramide-based receptor and the halide anion that involved both 1) amide N-H and 2) aryl proximate C-H fragments, for a total of four bonds. Probably due to the contribution of C-H fragments, complexes of R(sq) with halides are 1 to 2 orders of magnitude more stable than the corresponding ones with the analogous urea-based receptor that contains two 4-nitrophenyl substituents (R(ur)). In the case of oxoanions, R(sq) forms complexes, the stability of which decreases with the decreasing basicity of the anion (H(2)PO(4) (-)>NO(2) (-) approximately HSO(4) (-)>NO(3) (-)), and is comparable to that of complexes of the urea-based receptor R(ur). Such a behaviour is ascribed to the predominance of different contributions: electrostatic interaction for halides, acid-to-base 'frozen' proton transfer for oxoanions. Finally, with the strongly basic anions F(-) and CH(3)COO(-), R(sq) first gives genuine hydrogen-bond complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry; then, upon addition of a second anion equivalent, it undergoes deprotonation of one N--H fragment, with the simultaneous formation of the dianion hydrogen-bond complexes, [HF(2)](-) and [CH(3)COOHCH(3)COO](-), respectively. In the case of the urea-based derivative R(ur), deprotonation takes place with fluoride but not with acetate. The apparently higher Brønsted acidity of R(sq) with respect to R(ur) reflects the capability of the squaramide receptor to delocalise the negative charge formed on N--H deprotonation over the cyclobutene-1,2-dione ring and the entire molecular framework.

Triazolophanes: a new class of halide-selective ionophores for potentiometric sensors

Triazolophanes, cyclic compounds containing 1,2,3-triazole units, are a new class of host molecules that demonstrate strong interactions with halides. These molecules are designed with a preorganized cavity that interacts through hydrogen bonding with spherical anions, such as chloride and bromide. We have explored the use of one such triazolophane as a halide-selective ionophore in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane electrodes. Different membrane compositions were evaluated to identify concentrations of the ionophore, plasticizer, and lipophilic additive that give rise to the best chloride and bromide selectivity. The lipophilicity of the plasticizer was found to have a great impact on the electrode response. Additionally, the concentration of the lipophilic additive was found to be critical for optimal response. The utility of a triazolophane-based electrode was demonstrated by quantification of bromide in horse serum samples.

Sulfate ion encapsulation in caged supramolecular structures assembled by second-sphere coordination

A tripodal tris(3-pyridylurea) receptor (L) assembles with metal sulfate salts MSO(4) (M=Mn, Zn) to afford supramolecular cages [SO(4) subset L(2)] that encapsulate the SO(4)(2-) ion via multiple hydrogen bonds in a three-dimensional structure held by second-sphere coordination; (1)H NMR and negative-ion mode ESI-MS spectra reveal significantly strong sulfate binding in solution.

Rugby-ball-shaped sulfate-water-sulfate adduct encapsulated in a neutral molecular receptor capsule

We report a tren-based tris(urea) receptor molecule that shows preferential binding with sulfate/phosphate anions. The receptor acts as a neutral molecular capsule, within which a unique sulfate-(H(2)O)(3)-sulfate adduct is encapsulated.

Selectivity enhancement of anion-responsive electrodes by pulsed chronopotentiometry

A large and robust selectivity improvement of ion-selective electrodes is presented for the measurement of abundant ions. An improvement in selectivity by more than two orders of magnitude has been attained for the hydrophilic chloride ions measured in a dilute background of the lipophilic ions perchlorate and salicylate in a pulsed chronopotentiometric measurement mode. This is attributed to a robust kinetic discrimination of the dilute lipophilic ions in this measuring mode, which is not possible to achieve in classical potentiometry. Maximum tolerable concentrations of the interfering ions are found to be on the order of 30 microM before causing substantial changes in potential. As an example of practical relevance, the robust detection of chloride in 72 microM salicylate (reflecting 1:10 diluted blood) with a detection limit of 0.5 mM chloride is demonstrated. Corresponding potentiometric sensors did not give a useful chloride response under these conditions.

Organotin compounds: An ionophore system for fluoride ion recognition

Ion-selective properties were established for membrane electrodes prepared by using organotin compounds of type (L(CN)RSnF2)n, (R=n-Bu (I),=Ph (II)) and (L(CN)SnF3)n (III) (L(CN)=C(6)H4(CH2NMe2)-2). Electrodes formulated with the optimized membranes containing the organotin compounds I-III as ionophores and sodium tetraphenylborate (10-30%) exhibited high selectivity for fluoride over other anions. An electrode prepared with ionophore II using dibutyl phthalate as the plasticizer and 15% sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) as anion additive, possesses the best potentiometric response characteristics. It shows a detection limit of 7.9 x 10(-7) M with a slope of 62.7 mV decade(-1) of activity in buffer solutions of pH 5.5. The interference from other anions is suppressed under this optimized measurement conditions. An entirely non-Hofmeister selectivity sequence (F->CH3COO->Cl->I- approximately Br->ClO4->NO2->NO3->SCN-) with remarkable preference towards fluoride is obtained. The influence on the electrode performances by anion additive was studied, and the possible response mechanism was investigated by UV-vis spectra. The electrode has been used for direct determination of fluoride in drinking mineral water with satisfactory results.