Ferrocene-Appended Aryl Triazole for Electrochemical Recognition of Phosphate Ions

Solvent Effects in Halogen and Hydrogen Bonding Mediated Electrochemical Anion Sensing in Aqueous Solution and at Interfaces

Sensing anionic species in competitive aqueous media is a well-recognised challenge to long-term applications across a multitude of fields. Herein, we report a comprehensive investigation of the electrochemical anion sensing performance of novel halogen bonding (XB) and hydrogen bonding (HB) bis-ferrocene-(iodo)triazole receptors in solution and at self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), in a range of increasingly competitive aqueous organic solvent media (ACN/H2 O). In solution, the XB sensor notably outperforms the HB sensor, with substantial anion recognition induced cathodic voltammetric responses of the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple persisting even in highly competitive aqueous solvent media of 20 % water content. The response to halides, in particular, shows a markedly lower sensitivity to increasing water content associated with a unique halide selectivity at unprecedented levels of solvent polarity. The HB sensor, in contrast, generally displayed a preference towards oxoanions. A significant surface-enhancement effect was observed for both XB/HB receptive films in all solvent systems, whereby the HB sensor generally displayed larger responses towards oxoanions than its halogen bonding analogue.

The aqueous dependent sensing of hydrazine and phosphate anions using a bis-heteroleptic Ru(II) complex with a phthalimide-anchored pyridine-triazole ligand

Selective turn-on luminescence properties are shown by a non-luminescent metalloreceptor upon the addition of phosphate anions in CH3CN and hydrazine in CH3CN/H2O (6/4, v/v). The non-luminescent metalloreceptors [RuII(phen)2(TpH)]2PF6- (RtpH) and [RuII(Phen)2(TpI)]2PF6- (RtpI) {phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; TpH = 2-(2-(4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)ethyl)isoindoline-1,3-dione; and TpI = 2-(2-(5-iodo-4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)ethyl)isoindoline-1,3-dione} were synthesized and characterized. Both metalloreceptors have excellent sensing properties for phosphate anions (H2PO4- and H2P2O72-) over other anions in CH3CN. The limit of detection (LOD) values were calculated to be 79 nM and 48 nM for H2PO4- upon addition to RtpH and RtpI, respectively. Noncovalent interactions play a key role in the sensing of phosphate anions, among which the halogen-anion interaction showed superior recognition properties over the hydrogen-anion interaction. Comparative electrochemical experiments, 1H NMR titration, 31P NMR titration, and lifetime studies also show that RtpI has better sensing properties, as evidenced by its more drastic emission response to H2PO4- anions compared with RtpH. Moreover, the metalloreceptors showed a remarkable fluorescence increase (at ∼584 nm) upon the addition of hydrazine, without the interference of other amines in CH3CN/H2O (6/4, v/v). Interestingly, fluorescence enhancement was observed within live HeLa cells upon hydrazine addition, which is caused by the efficient photoinduced electron transfer process.

Electroactive Anion Receptor with High Affinity for Arsenate

Herein, we present the synthesis and characterization of a macrocyclic polyamide cage that incorporates redox-active 1,4-dithiin units. UV/vis titration experiments with eight anions in acetonitrile revealed high affinity for H₂AsO₄^- (log β₂ = 10.4_-0.4^+0.4) and HCO₃^- (log β₂ = 8.3_-0.4^+0.3) over other common anionic guests, such as Cl^- (log K_1:1 = 3.20_-0.02^+0.03), HSO₄^- (log K_1:1 = 3.57_-0.03^+0.02), and H₂PO₄^- (log K_1:1 = 4.24_-0.04^+0.05), by the selective formation of HG₂ complexes. The recognition of arsenate over phosphate is rare among both proteins and synthetic receptors, and though the origin of selectivity is not known, exploiting the difference in the binding stoichiometry represents an underexplored avenue toward developing receptors that can differentiate between the two anions. Additional analysis by ¹H NMR in 1:3 CD₂Cl₂/MeCN-d₃ found a strong dependence of anion binding stoichiometry with the solvent employed. Finally, titration experiments with cyclic voltammetry provided varying and complex responses for each anion tested, though reaction between the anion and receptors was observed in most cases. These results implicate 1,4-dithiins as interesting recognition moieties in the construction of supramolecular receptors.

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.

Exploiting 1,4-naphthoquinone and 3-iodo-1,4-naphthoquinone motifs as anion binding sites by hydrogen or halogen-bonding interactions

We describe here the utilization of 1,4-naphthoquinone and 3-iodo-1,4-naphthoquinone motifs as new anion binding sites by hydrogen- or halogen-bonding interactions, respectively. These binding sites have been integrated in bidentate ester based receptors. Emission experiments reveal that both receptors selectively recognize sulfate anions, which induced a remarkable increase of a new emission band attributed to the formation of π-stacking interactions between two 1,4-naphthoquinone units. Absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry indicate the disruption of the ester group of the 1,4-naphthoquinone based receptor in the presence of HP₂O₇^3-, H₂PO₄^-, F^-, AcO^- and C₆H₅CO₂^- and in the halogenated receptor with HP₂O₇^3-, F^- and AcO^- anions, while the presence of sulfate anions showed the clasical complexation behaviour. The ¹H-NMR experiment showed a slow exchange process of the receptors with their sulfate complexes. The binding mode of the receptors with sulfate has been studied by DFT calculations along with the Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP) surface computational tool that reveals those parts of the receptors which are more suitable for interacting with anions.

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial evaluation of ferrocene–oxime ether benzyl 1H-1,2,3-triazole hybrids

A series of ferrocene–oxime ether benzyl 1H-1,2,3 triazole hybrids has been synthesized by employing Cu(i) catalyzed azide–alkyne [3+2] cycloaddition reaction and their antibacterial and antifungal activities are reported.

Anion Recognition Strategies Based on Combined Noncovalent Interactions

This review highlights the most significant examples of an emerging field in the design of highly selective anion receptors. To date, there has been remarkable progress in the binding and sensing of anions. This has been driven in part by the discovery of ways to construct effective anion binding receptors using the dominant N-H functional groups and neutral and cationic C-H hydrogen bond donors, as well as underexplored strong directional noncovalent interactions such as halogen-bonding and anion-π interactions. In this review, we will describe a new and promising strategy for constructing anion binding receptors with distinct advantages arising from their elaborate design, incorporating multiple binding sites able to interact cooperatively with anions through these different kinds of noncovalent interactions. Comparisons with control species or solely hydrogen-bonding analogues reveal unique characteristics in terms of strength, selectivity, and interaction geometry, representing important advances in the rising field of supramolecular chemistry.

Potentiometric sensing of aqueous phosphate by competition assays using ion-exchanger doped-polymeric membrane electrodes as transducers

Using Zn(2+)-BPMP or Cu(2+)-BPMP as a receptor and o-mercaptophenol as an indicator, potentiometric sensing of aqueous phosphate by competition assays was achieved. With attractive features of portability, low cost and resistance to interference from turbidity and color, this sensor was successfully used for phosphate detection in biological and water samples.

Conjugation of cytochrome c with ferrocene-terminated hyperbranched polymer and its influence on protein structure, conformation and function

Interaction mechanism of a new hyperbranched polyurethane-based ferrocene (HPU-Fc) with cytochrome c (cyt c) and cyt c structure and conformation change induced by HPU-Fc were investigated using cyclic voltammogram(CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence and absorbance spectroscopy technique. The peroxidase activity of cyt c in the presence of HPU-Fc was also studied. The structure and conformation of protein are relatively stable at moderate concentration of HPU-Fc without obvious perturbation of the heme pocket and significant changes in protein secondary structure. Conjugation of cyt c with excessive HPU-Fc (over about 3 times of cyt c) slightly changed the α-helix structure in protein, disturbed the microenvironment around heme as well as away from the heme crevice, which caused the changes of the electrochemical behavior and the absorption spectra. Reasonable amount of HPU-Fc has no significant influence on the protein enzymatic activity, while excess HPU-Fc may cause a conformation not suitable for H2O2 activation and guaiacol oxidation. The interaction of HPU-Fc with cyt c and the conservation of protein function at suitable HPU-Fc amount make prepared complex promising for the synergistic anticancer therapy.

Aryl-triazole foldamers incorporating a pyridinium motif for halide anion binding in aqueous media

Aryl-triazole foldamers incorporating a pyridinium motif are shown to be strongly halide anion binding in aqueous solvent mixtures.

Acid/Base-mediated uptake and release of halide anions with a preorganized aryl-triazole foldamer

A new approach for the construction of artificial receptors capable of selectively uptake and release of halides to mimic the biological halide ions pumps is developed, in which the preorganized aryl-triazole foldamer was designed to bear a resorcinolic group in the central strand as a switch regulator. By using 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene/picric acid as the trigger, the foldamer can be switched between "w"-shape and helical conformation. Due to the large, half-open cavity as well as the additional electrostatic repulsion between oxyanions and guest halide, the foldamer in "w"-shape possesses a much weaker affinity for chloride, bromide, and iodide anions than those in the helical conformation in 6:94 (v/v) [D6 ]DMSO/CDCl3 . When the foldamer and chloride ions have the same initial concentrations of 1 mM, 70 % chloride ions in the solution could be reversibly bound or released upon switching.

A new fluorescent chemosensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in aqueous solution and living cells

A new fluorescein-based chemosensor, FP-Fe³⁺, was developed for the detection of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in aqueous solution and living cells.

Pyrenyl-functionalized ferrocenes for multisignaling recognition of anions

New pyrenyl-functionalized ferrocenes for fluorescence and electrochemical dual sensing of anions in organic solution are introduced.

Heterobimetallic complexes with redox-active mesoionic carbenes as metalloligands: electrochemical properties, electronic structures and catalysis

Electronic structures and redox-induced catalysis are presented with the first example of heterobimetallic ferrocenyl–Au(i) complexes with mesoionic carbenes.

Benzimidazolium-based chemosensors: selective recognition of H2PO4−, HP2O73−, F− and ATP through fluorescence and gelation studies

Benzimidazolium-based receptors 1 and 2 exhibit sensing properties towards different anions such as H₂PO₄⁻, HP₂O₇³⁻ and F⁻ under identical condition. Experimental results are correlated with the theoretical findings.

Halogen bonding-enhanced electrochemical halide anion sensing by redox-active ferrocene receptors

The first redox-active halogen bonding anion receptors display larger electrochemical voltammetric responses to halide binding compared to their hydrogen bonding analogues.

The synthesis of UDP-selective fluorescent probe and its imaging application in living cells

A perylene-based probe was developed for uridine diphosphate (UDP) sensing and cell imaging. The probe presented about 4-fold fluorescence enhancement in the presence or absence of 100equiv UDP. The selectivity toward UDP over other phosphor-containing anions was observed. The selective UDP sensing was speculated to be related to the binding affinities of Zn(2+) ions in sensor with the uridine and phosphate moieties of UDP. Furthermore, this probe was also applied to image of UDP in living cells.

Hexaphenylbenzene-based fluorescent aggregates for ratiometric detection of cyanide ions at nanomolar level: set-reset memorized sequential logic device

A hexaphenylbenzene-based receptor 3 has been synthesized that forms a fluorescent spherical aggregate in mixed aqueous media due to its aggregation-induced emission enhancement attributes. These fluorescent spherical aggregates show ratiometric response toward cyanide ions via nucleophilic addition and undergo deaggregation to form smaller nanoaggregates. In addition, the solution-coated paper strips of 3 can detect cyanide ions in the range of ∼2.6 ng/cm(2), thus, providing a simple, portable, and low-cost method for detection of cyanide ions in aqueous media. Receptor 3 also behaves as a set-reset memorized sequential logic circuit with chemical inputs of CN(-) ions and trifluoroacetic acid or H(+) (pH ≤ 3).