Effect of pressure on the solubilization of a fluorescent merocyanine dye by a nonionic surfactant

Merocyanines: Electronic Structure and Spectroscopy in Solutions, Solid State, and Gas Phase

Merocyanines, owing to their readily tunable electronic structure, are arguably the most versatile functional dyes, with ample opportunities for tailored design via variations of both the donor/acceptor (D/A) end groups and π-conjugated polymethine chain. A plethora of spectral properties, such as strong solvatochromism, high polarizability and hyperpolarizabilities, and sensitizing capacity, motivates extensive studies for their applications in light-converting materials for optoelectronics, nonlinear optics, optical storage, fluorescent probes, etc. Evidently, an understanding of the intrinsic structure-property relationships is a prerequisite for the successful design of functional dyes. For merocyanines, these regularities have been explored for over 70 years, but only in the past three decades have these studies expanded beyond the theory of their color and solvatochromism toward their electronic structure in the ground and excited states. This Review outlines the fundamental principles, essential for comprehension of the variable nature of merocyanines, with the main emphasis on understanding the impact of internal (chemical structure) and external (intermolecular interactions) factors on the electronic symmetry of the D-π-A chromophore. The research on the structure and properties of merocyanines in different media is reviewed in the context of interplay of the three virtual states: nonpolar polyene, ideal polymethine, and zwitterionic polyene.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Mg2+-Selective Probe Based on Benzoyl Hydrazine Derivative and Its Application in Cell Imaging

A simple benzoyl hydrazine derivative P was successfully synthesized and characterized as Mg2+-selective fluorescent probe. The binding of P with Mg2+ caused an obvious fluorescence enhancement at 482 nm. The fluorescent, UV-vis spectra, 1H-NMR, and IR spectra confirmed the formation of P-Mg2+ complex, and the formation of a 1:1 stoichiometry complex was proved by Job's plot and mass spectrometry. The recognition mechanism of P to Mg2+ was owing to the photoinduced electron transfer effect (PET). The fluorescent response was linear in the range of 0.9-4.0 µM with the detection limit of 0.3 µM Mg2+ in water-ethanol solution (1:9, v:v, pH10.0, 20 mM HEPES). In addition, the results of cell imaging of Mg2+ in Hl-7701 cells was satisfying.

Solubilization of n-alkylbenzenes into gemini surfactant micelles in aqueous medium

Solubilization of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene, n-butylbenzene, and n-pentylbenzene into micelles of decanediyl-1-10-bis(dimethyltetradecylammonium bromide) (14-10-14,2Br(-)) has been investigated in the temperature range from 288.2 to 308.2 K. The equilibrium concentrations of all the solubilizates are determined spectrophotometrically. The concentration of the solubilizates remains constant below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and increases linearly with an increase in 14-10-14,2Br(-) concentration above the cmc. Compared to the mother micelle, the solubilized micelles indicate much larger hydrodynamic diameters, which are determined by dynamic light scattering. Therefore, the Gibbs energy change for the solubilization of n-alkylbenzenes has been evaluated by the partitioning of the solubilizates between the aqueous and micellar phases. Furthermore, the enthalpy and entropy changes for the solubilization could be calculated from temperature dependence of the Gibbs energy change. From the thermodynamic parameters, it is found that the solubilization for the present system is entropy-driven and that the location of the solubilizates moves into the inner core of the micelle with an elongation of their alkyl chains. The movement on the location is also supported by the results of absorption spectra, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (2-D NOESY).

Synthesis, molecular structure, DNA interaction and antioxidant activity of novel naphthoxazole compound

A novel naphthoxazole compound 1 was synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of the compound shows that N atom locates at β-position and oxygen atom at α-position in naphthalene cycle. The DNA binding was studied by absorption spectroscopy, viscosity and luminescence spectra. The DNA binding constant was determined to be 6.16×10(3). The stoichiometry of compound/DNA is 1:1. The pBR322 DNA cleavage induced by the compound was investigated. The antioxidant activity of the compound against hydroxyl radical was also explored.