Spectroscopic Study of a Symmetrical Bis-crown Fluoroionophore of the Diphenylpentadienone Series

Multi-parametric sensing by multi-channel molecular fluorescent probes based on excited state intramolecular proton transfer and charge transfer processes

Considering the applications of fluorescent probes and the information they provide, their brightness of fluorescence and photostability are of paramount importance. However, in the case of steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy, the amount of information can be increased by the application of multi-channel probes, via a multi-band fluorophore introduced in the probe molecule. In most cases, the use of such a multi-band (or multi-channel) fluorophore can also be combined with the concomitant introduction of one or several analyte receptors. Most often, the design of ratiometric probes with multi-band fluorescence emission are based on phenomena such as photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) or excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). Although ICT probes were up to recently the most popular, ESIPT probes and among them 3-hydroxyflavone derivatives, were shown to be the most productive. Several general problems were resolved by this family of probes, as for example the measurement of local dielectric constant, local H-bond accepting ability, water local concentration and ATP concentration in small volumes. Incorporation of such multi-channel probes into lipid membranes allowed to measure the different membrane potentials and to detect cell apoptosis. Also, it enabled to recognize and characterize the rafts formation in different lipid bilayers and peculiar features of the charged membrane interface. Such probes are also able to provide a concentration-dependent fluorescence signals upon binding of H+, Mg2+and Ba2+ions, and thus to recognize these different cations. The multi-channel probes are effective tools in the study of interactions of macromolecules such as peptides, proteins and nucleic acids. The most useful feature is that they inform simultaneously about several physical parameters, in this way giving a better insight in the investigated system. Thus, by comparing the reviewed probes with other modern fluorescent approaches, it can be concluded they are more informative and accurate tools.

N. S. Effect of solvent polarity on the photophysical properties of chalcone derivatives

The photophysical properties were studied for FNPO, AFPO and FHPO in different organic solvents. The excited state of the molecules were found to be more polar than the ground state.

A highly selective fluorescent chemosensor for cyanide anions based on a chalcone derivative in the presence of iron(iii) ions, and its capacity for living cell imaging in mixed aqueous systems

A chalcone based chemosensor was reported, and its in situ formed complex can serve as a cyanide anion probe.

Ultra-sensitive fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ based on a donor-acceptor-donor framework

A new fluoroionophore [E-4,4'-di(N-(2-pyridyl)amino)stilbene, E1] with a donor-acceptor-donor framework, which features a central stilbene (acceptor) fluorophore and two terminal pyridylamino (donor) ionophores, is reported. The probe displays an ultrasensitive fluorescence quenching response toward Hg(2+) in H(2)O/THF. Coordination of Hg(2+) to E1 affords a 2:1 complex, enabling the detection of Hg(2+) at a concentration as low as 4.4 × 10(-14) M. The interactions between the two species have been thoroughly characterized with UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Density functional theory calculations provide further insights into the nature of the fluorescence quenching response. In contrast, a fluorescent molecule with the donor-acceptor architecture, E-4-(N-(2-pyridyl)amino)stilbene (E4), exhibits a greatly attenuated fluorescence quenching response toward Hg(2+).

Spectral properties and inclusion of a hetero-chalcone analogue in organized media of micellar solutions and beta-cyclodextrin

The absorption and fluorescence emission spectral properties of 3-(4'-dimethylaminophenyl)-1-(2-thienyl)prop-2-en-1-one, abbreviated as DMATP, have been investigated in organized media of aqueous micellar and beta-cyclodextrin (CD) solutions. While the absorption spectra are less sensitive to the nature of the added surfactant or CD, the characteristics of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescence are highly sensitive to the properties of the medium. The ICT maximum is strongly blue-shifted with a great enhancement in the fluorescence quantum yield on adding micellar or CD solutions. This indicates the solubilization of DMATP in the micellar core and formation of an inclusion complex with beta-CD. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) as well as the polarity of the micellar core of SDS, CTAB and TX-100 have been determined. The CMC values are in good agreement with the reported values while the polarity is lower indicating that DMATP molecules are incorporated in the micellar core not at the micellar interface. The inclusion constants of binding of DMATP in micellar or CD have been also determined. The thermodynamic parameters of formation of DMATP:CD inclusion complex have been calculated from the temperature dependence of the fluorescence spectra of the formed complex. The negative enthalpy and free energy of formation indicate that the inclusion process is energetically favorable. The highly negative value of formation entropy (DeltaS = -162.3 J mol(-1) K(-1)) reflects the high restrictions imposed on the movement of both the host and included guest molecules which is consistent with the increase of the fluorescence yield and blue shift of the fluorescence maximum.

Ferrocenyl Compound as a Multiresponsive Calcium Chemosensor with Remarkable Fluorescence Properties in CH3CN

We have synthesized a novel disubstituted ferrocenyl compound [Fe(C5H4CO(CH=CH)2C6H4NEt2)2] (3) that displays a remarkable fluorescence quantum yield (1.1 x 10(-1)) in acetonitrile, and we have studied its capacity for calcium detection in depth using both electrochemical and optical techniques in this medium. The results of our NMR analysis reveal that the ligand-calcium interaction is CO-centered and that an uncommon equilibrium occurs between 3 and calcium triflate, involving five species of different stoichiometries. In contrast, our analysis of the UV-vis absorption data indicates that only three species of different stoichiometries are formed when calcium perchlorate is used with 3. Mass spectrometry measurements provide strong support for the formation of all these different species in solution. In addition, the electrochemical detection of calcium triflate by 3 leads to an irreversible Fe(II)/Fe(III) oxidation process with an unusual negative shift (-60 mV) caused by the (n)Bu4NBF4 salt effect on the Ca2+-3 interaction process. Compound 3 can also be an original optical probe to detect calcium perchlorate over a wide range of salt concentration by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The most original and intriguing property of compound 3 is that it exhibits an unprecedented "multistep" fluorescence behavior upon addition of this salt.

The Photochemistry of a bis-Crown Ether Based on Benzobis(thiazole) and Its Alkaline Earth Metal Cation Complexes

Irradiation of acetonitrile solutions of the bis-crown ether E,E-2,7-bis[2-(6,7,9,10,12,13,15,16-octahydro-5,8,11,14,17-pentaoxabenzocyclopentadecen-2-yl)vinyl]-benzo[1,2-d;3,4-d']bisthiazole (hereafter, 1) gives efficient E --> Z photoisomerization (initial phi(trans --> cis) = 0.48), leading to lambda(exc)-dependent quasi-photostationary states composed primarily of E,Z and E,E isomer mixtures. Further irradiation gives [2 + 2]-cycloadducts of 1. In the presence of Ba2+ ions, essentially quantitative formation of 2:2 complexes, 1(2) x (Ba2+)2 controls the photochemical outcome. E --> Z photoisomerization of the ligand is entirely suppressed and efficient intramolecular [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition in the complexes leads to cyclobutane dimers of 1 (phiCB = 0.26). The reactivity of 1 in the presence of Mg2+ ions for which 1:2 complex formation dominates gives both cis-trans photoisomerization and enhanced photocycloaddition.

A Highly Selective Bicyclic Fluoroionophore for the Detection of Lithium Ions†

The macrobicyclic molecule, 21-(9-anthrylmethyl)-4,17,13,16-tetraoxa-1,10,21-triazabicyclo [8.8.5]tricosane-19,23-dione, I, was designed, synthesized and characterized as a fluoroionophore for the selective, optical detection of lithium ions. Compound I is based on a bridged diazacrown structure, which provides a semirigid binding framework. Binding takes place by electrostatic interactions between the oxygen atoms of the crown and the cation and is transduced to fluorescence emission from an attached anthracene fluorophore. In a 75:25 dichloromethane/tetrahydrofuran solvent mixture, I acts as an intramolecular electron transfer "off-on" fluorescence switch, exhibiting a greater than 190-fold enhancement in fluorescence emission intensity in the presence of lithium ions. The relative selectivity of I for lithium ions over sodium, potassium and ammonium ions was found to be log K(Li+,Na+) approximately -3.36, log K(Li+,K+) approximately -1.77 and log K(Li+,NH4+) approximately -2.78.

Synthesis and multitopic complex formation of a photochromic bis(crown ether) based on benzobis(thiazole)

2,7-Bis[2-(6,7,9,10,12,13,15,16-octahydro-5,8,11,14,17-pentaoxabenzocyclopentadecen-2-yl)vinyl]-benzo[1,2-d;3,4-d']bisthiazole, 2, with crown ether styryl moieties substituted on a heterocyclic core, was synthesized and its complex forming ability with several metal cations was evaluated in acetonitrile by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results are compared to those for the analogous ligand possessing a single crown ether styryl moiety. Selective binding of the metal cation at the heterocyclic core of both ligands was observed only for Hg2+. Alkali and alkaline earth cations bind selectively at the crown ether moieties. Stability constants and pure spectra of defined stoichiometry were determined with the use of HYPERQUAD, a least-squares fitting program, and the results were validated in one case by subjecting the titration spectral matrix to singular value decomposition with self-modeling (SVD-SM). The multitopic ligand 2 forms relatively strong 2:2 stoichiometric complexes with K+, among the alkali metal cations, and Ba2+, among the alkaline earth metal cations, and is a promising selective optical sensor for these ions.

S2 Fluorescence and Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of the S2 and S1 States of a Ketocyanine Dye

Dynamics of the excited singlet (both the S2 and S1) states of a ketocyanine dye, namely, 2,5-bis[(2,3-dihydroindolyl)-propylene]-cyclopentanone (KCD), have been investigated in different kinds of media using steady-state absorption and emission as well as femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic techniques. Steady-state fluorescence measurements, following photoexcitation of KCD to its second excited singlet state, reveal dual fluorescence (emission from both the S2 and S1 states) behavior. Although the intensity of the S2 --> S0 fluorescence is weaker than that of the S1 --> S0 fluorescence in solutions at room temperature (298 K), the former becomes as much as or more intense than the latter in rigid matrixes at 77 K. The lifetime of the S2 state is short and varies between 0.2 and 0.6 ps in different solvents. After its creation, the S2 state undergoes two simultaneous processes, namely, S2 --> S0 fluorescence and S2 --> S1 internal conversion. Time-resolved measurements reveal the presence of an ultrafast component in the decay dynamics of the S1 state. A good correlation between the lifetime of this component and the longitudinal relaxation times (tauL) of the solvents suggests that this component arises due to solvation in polar solvents. More significant evolution of the spectroscopic properties of the S1 state in alcoholic solvents in the ultrafast time domain has been explained by the occurrence of the repositioning of the hydrogen bonds around the carbonyl group in the excited state of KCD. In 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, a strongly hydrogen bond donating solvent, it has even been possible to establish the existence of two distinct forms of the S1 state, namely, the non-hydrogen-bonded (or free) molecule and the hydrogen-bonded complex.

Metal-Ion Sensing Fluorophores with Large Two-Photon Absorption Cross Sections: Aza-Crown Ether Substituted Donor−Acceptor−Donor Distyrylbenzenes

Chromophores based on a donor-acceptor-donor structure possessing a large two-photon absorption cross section and one or two mono-aza-15-crown-5 ether moieties, which can bind metal cations, have been synthesized. The influence of Mg(2+) binding on their one- and two-photon spectroscopic properties has been investigated. Upon binding, the two-photon action cross sections at 810 nm decrease by a factor of up to 50 at high Mg(2+) concentrations and this results in a large contrast in the two-photon excited fluorescence signal between the bound and unbound forms, for excitation in the range of 730 to 860 nm. Experimental and computational results indicate that there is a significant reduction of the electron donating strength of the aza-crown nitrogen atom(s) upon metal ion binding and that this leads to a blue shift in the position as well as a reduction in the strength of the lowest-energy two-photon absorption band. The molecules reported here can serve as models for the design of improved two-photon excitable metal-ion sensing fluorophores.

From Calcium Interaction to Calcium Electrochemical Detection by [(C5H5)Fe(C5H4COCHCHC6H4NEt2)] and Its Two Novel Structurally Characterized Derivatives

[(C(5)H(5))Fe(C(5)H(4)COCH=CHC(6)H(4)NEt(2))] (1) has been electrochemically evaluated toward different cations in solution. Calcium sensing by this compound and its two new derivatives [(C(5)H(5))Fe(C(5)H(4)CO(CH=CH)(2)C(6)H(4)NMe(2))] (2) and [(C(5)H(5))Fe(C(5)H(4)CH=CHCOCH=CHC(6)H(4)NEt(2))] (3) that exhibit a conjugated link between the ferrocene unit and the nitrogen atom has been thoroughly examined. Compounds 2 and 3 have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The three related protonated species [1H][BF(4)] (4), [2H][BF(4)] (5), and [3H][BF(4)] (6) have been isolated in a good yield. NMR experiments clearly established that calcium interaction occurs in the vicinity of the carbonyl group, and mass spectrometry studies confirmed that this interaction, which involves several ligand-Ca(2+) adducts, is complex. A combination of electrochemical and NMR experiments highlighted an original salt influence on the electrochemical calcium sensing result.

First fluorescent ferrocenyl compound as multiresponsive calcium-sensing device. NMR, electrochemical, and photophysical preliminary investigations in CH(3)CN

A new ferrocene receptor binds a calcium guest via complex processes involving the whole unsaturated core of the ligand. Complexation induces significant changes in the ligand properties, as evidenced by the unprecedented cation sensing observed both by electrochemistry and fluorescence spectroscopy.