Synthesis, Dual Fluorescence, and Fluoroionophoric Behavior of Dipyridylaminomethylstilbenes

A Novel D-π-A Type Fluorescent Probe for Cu2+ Based on Styryl-Pyridinium Salts Conjugating Di-(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) Units

A novel D-π-A type fluorescent probe L(NO₃) for Cu (II) sensing was designed and fully characterized. The probe consists of a styryl-pyridine cation fluorescent group and a di-(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) receptor unit, which are linked by a phenyl group to form an electron donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) conjugate system, especially the introduction of a nitrate counter anion for significantly enhanced water solubility of the probe. Fluorescence titration studies of the probe L(NO₃) showed a higher selectivity for Cu²⁺ than other metal ions, and the emission spectrum was strongly quenched upon binding. The competitive binding assay and the low detection limit (0.932 µM) showed that the probe L(NO₃) had strong anti-interference ability and excellent Cu²⁺ detection performance. The binding ratio of probe L(NO₃) and Cu²⁺ was determined from Job's plot to be 1:1, which is consistent with the results obtained from X-ray crystal structures. Meanwhile, the probe showed instantaneous chemical reversibility when titrated with EDTA solution, indicating potential recycling properties of the probe. In addition, the design of inexpensive fluorescent test strips can perform the on-site and real-time detection Cu²⁺ with a color recognition application.

Porous Supramolecular Assembly of Pentiptycene-Containing Gold(I) Complexes: Persistent Excited-State Aurophilicity and Inclusion-Induced Emission Enhancement

We report herein a porous supramolecular framework formed by a linear mononuclear Au(I) complex (1) via the tongue-and-groove-like joinery between the pentiptycene U-cavities (grooves) and the rod-shaped π-conjugated backbone and alkyl chains (tongues) with the assistance of C-H···π and aurophilic interactions. The framework contains distorted tetrahedral Au₄ units, which undergo stepwise and persistent photoinduced Au(I)-Au(I) bond shortening (excited-state aurophilicity), leading to multicolored luminescence photochromism. The one-dimensional pore channels could accommodate different solvates and guests, and the guest inclusion-induced luminescence enhancement (up to 300%) and/or vapochromism are characterized. A correlation between the aurophilic bonding and the luminescence activity is uncovered by TDDFT calculations. Isostructural derivatives 2 and 3 corroborate both the robustness of the porous supramolecular assembly and the mechanisms of the stimulation-induced luminescence properties of 1. This work demonstrates the cooperation of aurophilicity and structural porosity and adaptability in achieving novel supramolecular photochemical properties.

Non-conventional synthesis and photophysical studies of platinum(ii) complexes with methylene bridged 2,2'-dipyridylamine derivatives

Methylene bridged 2,2'-dipyridylamine (dpa) derivatives and their metal complexes possess outstanding properties due to their inherent structural flexibility. Synthesis of such complexes typically involves derivatization of dpa followed by coordination on metals, and may not always be very efficient. In this work, an alternative synthetic approach, involving the derivatization step after - rather than prior to - coordination of dpa on metal center, is proposed and applied to synthesis of a number of platinum(ii) complexes with substituted benzyldi(2-pyridyl)amines. Comparison with the more conventional synthetic route reveals greater efficiency and versatility of the proposed approach. The obtained complexes are not luminescent in solution at room temperature, but display blue phosphorescence emission (ca. 415 nm) with the lifetimes of μs order in glassy matrix at 77 K, with additional green (ca. 485 nm) and relatively long living (τ = 3.7 ms) emission in the case of iodine substituted derivative.

A BODIPY derivative for colorimetric fluorescence sensing of Hg2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions and its application in logic gates

A BODIPY-based colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor 1 anchored with dipyridylamino (DPA) receptor has been designed, synthesized and characterized. It exhibited a simultaneous sensitive recognition for Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions. With the addition of these three kinds of metal ions into 1 in CH₃CN, its initial absorption maximum displayed obvious blue shifts, and the color changes of the solution could be clearly observed by naked eyes. Besides, the fluorescence intensity was significantly enhanced accompanied with the appearance of new emission peaks at 587 nm for Pb²⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions and 545 nm for Cu²⁺ ions. These results were attributed to the π-deconjugation between N-pyridyl and the BODIPY group due to the binding of metal ions with the BODIPY and DPA groups. Based on the sensing behaviors of 1, three logic gates (OR, INHIBT and combinational logic gate) were constructed correspondingly.

Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of Trifluoroethylarenes from Benzylic Bromodifluoroacetates

Trifluoroethylarenes are found in a variety of biologically active molecules, and strategies for accessing this substructure are important for developing therapeutic candidates and biological probes. Trifluoroethylarenes can be directly accessed via nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of benzylic electrophiles; however, current catalytic methods do not effectively transform electron-deficient substrates and heterocycles. To address this gap, we report a Cu-catalyzed decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of benzylic bromodifluoroacetates. To account for the tolerance of sensitive functional groups, we propose an inner-sphere mechanism of decarboxylation.

Reaction-based colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence sensor for detection of cyanide in aqueous media

A stilbene-based compound (1) has been prepared and was highly selective for the detection of cyanide anion in aqueous media even in the presence of other anions, such as F(-), Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), ClO(4)(-), H(2)PO(4)(-), HSO(4)(-), NO(3)(-), and CH(3)CO(2)(-). A noticeable change in the color of the solution, along with a prominent fluorescence enhancement, was observed upon the addition of cyanide. The color change was observed upon the nucleophilic addition of the cyanide anion to the electron-deficient cyanoacrylate group of 1. The spectral changes induced by the reaction were analyzed by comparison with two model compounds, such as compound 2 with dimethyl substituents and compound 3 without a cyanoacrylate group. An intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) mechanism played a key role in the sensing properties, and the mechanism was supported by DFT/TDDFT calculations.

Synthesis and cross-coupling reactions of imidomethyltrifluoroborates with aryl chlorides

Potassium imidomethyltrifluoroborate salts were efficiently synthesized. Potassium phthalimidomethyl-trifluoroborate was successfully used in Suzuki-Miyaura-like cross-coupling reactions with a variety of aryl chlorides.

Proton-induced fluorescent switching of a new 2D-pi-A type vinylcyanoacetate-pyran dye

A new 2D-pi-A type vinylcyanoacetate-pyran dye, ethyl 2-(2,6-bis(2-butoxy-4-(diethylamino)styryl)-4H-pyran-4-ylidene)-2-cyanoacetate (BDPC) was prepared by condensation reaction. The chemical structures of all the intermediates and the BDPC dye are characterized by (1)H NMR, MS. It showed interestingly solvatochromic and solvatofluorchromic properties in various solvents. Its LUMO and HOMO values were obtained by the theoretical calculation. The fluorescent intensity of BDPC dye can be reversibly selected by protonation/deprotonation of the amine moiety via control of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), leading to a fluorescent molecular switch with two distinguished "on" and "off" states.

An intramolecular charge transfer fluorescent probe: synthesis and selective fluorescent sensing of Ag+

An intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescent probe, in which the thiourea derivative moiety is linked to the fluorescent 4-(dimethylamino) benzamide, has been designed and synthesized. The ions-selective signaling behaviors of the probe were investigated. Upon the addition of Ag+, an overall emission enhancement of 14-fold was observed. Compound 1 displayed highly selective chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect with Ag+ over alkali, alkali earth metal ions and some transition metal ions in aqueous methanol solutions. The prominent selective and efficient fluorescent enhancing behavior could be utilized as a new chemosensing probe for the analysis of Ag+ ion in aqueous environment.

A Fluorescent Molecular Switch Driven by the Input Sequence of Metal Cations: An Azamacrocyclic Ligand Containing Bipolar Anthracene Fragments

An azamacrocyclic ligand (L) containing two anthracene (AN) fragments connected through two triethylenetetramine bridges has been synthesized, in which each of the bridges can coordinate with one metal cation. The effects of pH and metal cations (Zn2+ and Cd2+) on the emission properties of L were studied in water. Without metal cations, L does not show any emission at basic pH values. The addition of Zn2+ leads to the production of excimer emission, which is due to a static excimer formed by direct excitation of the intramolecular ground-state dimer of the bipolar AN fragments that approach each other by Zn2+ binding. In contrast, Cd2+ addition does not result in excimer emission because the Cd2+-AN pi complex, formed by donation of a pi electron of the AN fragments to the adjacent Cd2+, suppresses pi-stacking interactions of the AN fragments. The most notable feature is the appearance of excimer emission controlled by the input sequence of metal cations: Zn2+-->Cd2+ sequential addition (each one equivalent) allows excimer emission, whereas the reverse sequence (Cd2+-->Zn2+) does not. In the Zn2+-->Cd2+ sequence, Cd2+ coordination is structurally restricted by the first Zn2+ coordination with the other polyamine bridge, leading to the formation of a weak Cd2+-AN pi complex. In contrast, for the reverse sequence, the first Cd2+ coordination forms a stable Cd2+-AN pi complex, which is not weakened by sequential Zn2+ coordination, resulting in no excimer emission.

A Copper(II) Ion-Selective On−Off-Type Fluoroionophore Based on Zinc Porphyrin−Dipyridylamino

A new copper(II) fluorescent sensor 5,10,15,20-tetra((p-N,N-bis(2-pyridyl)amino)phenyl)porphyrin zinc (1) has been designed and synthesized by the Ullmann-type condensation of bromoporphyrin zinc with 2,2'-dipyridylamine (dpa) under copper powder as a catalyst as well as with K2CO3 as the base in a DMF solution. It consists of two separately functional moieties: the zinc porphyrin performs as a fluorophore, and the dpa-linked-to-zinc porphyrin acts as a selected binding site for metal ions. It displays a high selectivity and antidisturbance for the Cu2+ ion among the metal ions examined (Na+, Mg2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Ag+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, and Fe3+) and exhibits fluorescence quenching upon the binding of the Cu2+ ion with an "on-off"-type fluoroionophoric switching property. The detection limit is found to be 3.3 x 10(-7) M (3s blank) for Cu2+ ion in methanol solution, and its fluorescence can be revived by the addition of EDTA disodium solution. The design strategy and remarkable photophysical properties of sensor 1 help to extend the development of fluorescent sensors for metal ions.

Silver(i) complexation of linked 2,2′-dipyridylamine derivatives. Synthetic, solvent extraction, membrane transport and X-ray structural studies

Synthesis of the 2,2'-dipyridylamine derivatives di-2-pyridylaminomethylbenzene 1, 1,2-bis(di-2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene 2, 1,3-bis(di-2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene 3, 2,6-bis(di-2-pyridylaminomethyl)pyridine 4, 1,4-bis(di-2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene 5, and 1,3,5-tris(di-2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene 6 are reported together with the single-crystal X-ray structures of 2, 3, and 5. Reaction of individual salts of the type AgX (where X = NO(3)(-), PF(6)(-), ClO(4)(-), or BF(4)(-)) with the above ligands has led to the isolation of thirteen Ag(I) complexes, nine of which have also been characterised by X-ray diffraction. In part, the inherent flexibility of the respective ligands has resulted in the adoption of a range of coordination arrangements. A series of liquid-liquid (H(2)O/CHCl(3)) extraction experiments of Ag(I) with varying concentrations of 1-6 in the organic phase have been undertaken, with the counter ion in the aqueous phase being respectively picrate, perchlorate and nitrate. In general, extraction efficiencies for a given ionophore followed the Hofmeister order of picrate > perchlorate > nitrate; in each case the tris-dpa derivative 6 acting as the most efficient extractant of the six systems investigated. Competitive seven-metal bulk membrane transport experiments (H(2)O/CHCl(3)/H(2)O) employing the above ligands as the ionophore in the organic phase and equimolar concentrations of Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Ag(I) in the aqueous source phase were also undertaken, with transport occurring against a pH gradient. Under the conditions employed 1 and 5 yielded negligible transport of any of the metals present in the source phase while sole transport selectivity for Ag(I) was observed for 2-4 and 6.