Quenching of pH-Responsive Luminescence of a Benzoindolizine Sensor by an Ultrafast Hydrogen Shift

Fluorescent-sensor design requires consideration of how photochemical dynamics control properties of a sensing state. Transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy reveals an ultrafast net [1,3]-hydrogen shift following excitation of a protonated methoxy benzoindolizine (bzi) sensor in solution. These photochemical dynamics explain a quenched pH-responsive fluorescence shift and dramatically reduced fluorescence quantum yield relative to other (e. g. methyl) bzi compounds that do not tautomerize. Calculations predict the energetic and structural feasibility for rearrangement in protonated bzi compounds, such that interaction between the pi-network and strongly electron-donating methoxyl must lower the barrier for suprafacial H or H⁺ shift across an allylic moiety. As bzi compounds broadly exhibit pH-responsive emission shifts, chemical interactions that modulate this electronic interaction and suppress tautomerization could be used to facilitate binding- or surface-specific acid-responsive sensing.

Crystal structure of (E)-4-chloro-N′-(4-(diethylamino)benzylidene)benzohydrazide, C18H20ClN3O

C18H20ClN3O, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 10.0099(3) Å, b = 16.2337(6) Å, c = 21.0714(7) Å, β = 91.324(3)°, V = 3423.1(2) Å3, Z = 8, R gt (F) = 0.0381, wR ref (F 2 ) = 0.1065, T = 291(2) K.

Three-Fold C 3-Symmetric Off-On Fluorescent Chemo-Sensors for Fluoride

Three novel C 3-symmetric tris-salicylaldimine Schiff base based "off-on" fluorescence sensors have been designed and synthesized. The synthetic approach involves a simple imine bond (C = N) formation between 1,3,5-tris(4'-aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB) and 3,5-substituted salicylaldehydes. The presence of salicylaldehyde units on periphery of the tris-salicylaldimine Schiff bases masks the fluorescence of TAPB core. Interestingly, binding of fluoride ions to the salicylaldehyde units turns the fluorescence "on" in visible region. Fluoride ion detection limits for the present sensors have been calculated to be in the range of 0.17-3.0 ppm, which depends on the nature of the salicylaldehyde units.

Fluorescent probes for the selective detection of chemical species inside mitochondria

This feature article systematically summarizes the development of fluorescent probes for the selective detection of chemical species inside mitochondria.

Antimicrobial activity of aroylhydrazone-based oxido vanadium(v) complexes: in vitro and in silico studies

A series of oxido vanadium(v) complexes have been synthesized and evaluated from the point of experimental and theoretical antimicrobial activity.

Curcumin based chemosensor for selective detection of fluoride and cyanide anions in aqueous media

The conjugate N,N-dimethyl curcumin analogue fluorophore dye 1 has been synthesized and its performance as a sensor was demonstrated.

A “turn on” fluorescent and chromogenic chemosensor for fluoride anion: experimental and DFT studies

A simple, convenient “turn on” fluorescent and chromogenic chemosensor for fluoride anion detection in acetonitrile as well as in water has been developed.

Dual-mode chemodosimetric response of dibromo-BODIPY with anions

Aromatic nucleophilic substitution (Ar-SN) reaction of 3,5-dibromopentafluorophenyl-BODIPY has been explored as a remarkable basis for selective discrimination of anions. The efficient and characteristic ability of anions to modulate the absorption and emission properties of the dye provides an instantaneous distinction through dual-modes. For the first time, a novel platform to achieve dual-modal and promising recognition with discrimination of a series of anions differing in the nucleophilic atoms (F, O, C and N) has been taken into consideration. The behaviour of various anions with dibromo-BODIPY and vivid signal transduction has been fully established with absorption and emission spectroscopy. In addition to this, recognition events have been unambiguously characterized by (1)H, (19)F-NMR and single-crystal XRD.

Fluoride-driven 'turn on' ESPT in the binding with a novel benzimidazole-based sensor

A novel fluorescence sensor (BIP) bearing NH and OH subunits displayed a highly selective and sensitive recognition property for fluoride over other anions. Fluoride-driven ESPT, poorly used in anion recognition and sensing, was suggested to be responsible for the fluorescence enhancement with a blue shift of 35 nm in the emission spectrum.

TDDFT study on the sensing mechanism of a fluorescent sensor for fluoride anion: Inhibition of the ESPT process

The fluoride-sensing mechanism of a reported salicylaldehyde-based sensor (J. Photochem. Photobiol. B 2014, 138, 75) has been investigated by the TDDFT method. The present theoretical study indicates that there is an excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) process from the phenolic O-H moiety to the neighbor N atom in the sensor. The added fluoride anion could capture the proton in the O-H moiety and the corresponding phenolic anion is formed, which could inhibit the ESPT process. The experimental UV/Vis and fluorescence spectra are well reproduced by the calculated vertical excitation energies. Frontier molecular orbital analysis indicates that the local excited state of phenolic anion is responsible for its enhanced fluorescence. Due to this reason, the sensor can be used to sense fluoride anion by monitoring the fluorescent change.

Investigation on the photophysical properties of ESPT inspired salicylaldehyde-based sensor for fluoride sensing

A simple, highly selective and sensitive chemosensor (E)-2-((quinolin-8-ylimino) methyl) phenol (QP) has been developed for the fluoride, as demonstrated by the photophysical properties obtained by UV-vis and fluorescent methods. Excited-state inter/intramolecular proton transfer (ESPT) was suggested to be responsible for the fluoride-induced 'turn on' fluorescence and the blue shift of 25 nm in the emission spectrum.

A Highly Selective and Sensitive Chemosensor for Colorimetric and Fluorescent Detection of Al3+ and Living Cell Imaging

A colorimetric and fluorescent dual chemosensor for detecting Al3+, (E)-N′-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)nicotinohydrazide (HNN), was developed by combining 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with nicotinohydrazide. Addition of Al3+ to EtOH–H2O solution of HNN gives rise to a visible colour change from colourless to light blue and a significantly enhanced fluorescence. Other metal ions including Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, Ag+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+ have no or little effect on the specific response of HNN to Al3+. The binding mode of HNN–Al3+ complex was further clarified by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and 1H NMR titration experiments.

Colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for fluoride ions based on phenanthroimidazole (PI): spectroscopic, NMR and density functional studies

Phenanthro-imidazole conjugate of biscarbanohyrazone, probe PI was designed, synthesized and characterized for selective detection of fluoride ion.

A catalyst-free approach to a novel imidazo [4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline ligand and its corresponding ruthenium(ii) complex: insights into their applications in colorimetric anion sensing

Novel imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline ligand and its corresponding Ru(ii) complex are synthesized from green protocol for colorimetric detection of anions in water.

Chloride sensing via suppression of excited state intramolecular proton transfer in squaramides

A new design strategy is described for chloride ion sensors based on suppression of excited state intramolecular proton transfer in squaramides as a fluorescence "turn on" mechanism.

Dual channel selective fluorescence detection of Al(III) and PPi in aqueous media with an 'off-on-off' switch which mimics molecular logic gates (INHIBIT and EXOR gates)

In this study, we have synthesized a simple Schiff base type isophthaloyl salicylaldehyde hydrazone (ISH) moiety which selectively detects Al(III) and PPi with a fluorescence enhancement at two different wavelengths in aqueous solution. The sensing phenomenon is also reversible and thus the sensor beautifully mimics logic gates (INHIBIT and EXOR gates).

TD-DFT study on fluoride-sensing mechanism of 2-(2'-phenylureaphenyl)benzoxazole: the way to inhibit the ESIPT process

The fluoride-sensing mechanism of the sensor 2-(2'-phenylurea-phenyl)benzoxazole (PUBO) has been investigated by means of the TD-DFT method. The present theoretical study indicates that there is an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process in the sensor PUBO. The added fluoride anion could capture the proton in the free N-H moiety instead of the hydrogen-bonding one. The experimental UV/Vis and fluorescence spectra (J. Org. Chem. 2007, 72, 62) are well reproduced by the calculated vertical excitation energies in the ground state and the first singlet excited state. For example, the calculated emission wavelength of PUBO at 534 nm is very close to the fluorescence band at 554 nm. Furthermore, we theoretically confirmed that the added fluoride anions could inhibit the ESIPT process in PUBO. But different from the classical ESIPT-inhibition mechanism, the ESIPT process in the sensor PUBO is inhibited by the high energy barrier of its deprotonated form rather than by the absence of the transferred proton.

A highly selective colorimetric and "off-on-off" fluorescent probe for fluoride ions

In this paper, a highly selective and sensitive probe for fluoride ions (F(-)), containing a phenylpyridylvinylene derivative reporter and a Si-O bond receptor, was designed and characterized. The reaction mechanism is based on the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. Upon addition of F(-), probe 1 showed a remarkable red-shift (183 nm) in the absorption spectra accompanying with the color changes from colorless to purple, so probe 1 could serve as a "naked-eye" probe for F(-). The absorbance of probe 1 at 545 nm increased linearly with the concentration of F(-) from 20 to 150 µM. The detection limit was calculated to be 0.1 µM. Besides, "off-on-off" fluorescence intensity changes were also observed in the fluorescence spectra. The present results may provide a useful approach for the development of highly selective dual-channel probes for F(-).

A TD-DFT study on the cyanide-chemosensing mechanism of 8-formyl-7-hydroxycoumarin

Proton transfer (PT) and excited-state PT process are proposed to account for the fluorescent sensing mechanism of a cyanide chemosensor, 8-formyl-7-hydroxycoumarin. The time-dependent density functional theory method has been applied to investigate the ground and the first singlet excited electronic states of this chemosensor as well as its nucleophilic addition product with cyanide, with a view to monitoring their geometries and spectrophotometrical properties. The present theoretical study indicates that phenol proton of the chemosensor transfers to the formyl group along the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the first singlet excited state. Correspondingly, the nucleophilic addition product undergoes a PT process in the ground state, and shows a similar structure in the first singlet excited state. This could explain the observed strong fluorescence upon the addition of the cyanide anion in the relevant fluorescent sensing mechanism.

TD-DFT study on the sensing mechanism of a fluorescent chemosensor for fluoride: excited-state proton transfer

An excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) process, induced by both intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions, is proposed to account for the fluorescence sensing mechanism of a fluoride chemosensor, phenyl-1H-anthra(1,2-d)imidazole-6,11-dione. The time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) method has been applied to investigate the different electronic states. The present theoretical study of this chemosensor, as well as its anion and fluoride complex, has been conducted with a view to monitoring its structural and photophysical properties. The proton of the chemosensor can shift to fluoride in the ground state but transfers from the proton donor (NH group) to a proton acceptor (neighboring carbonyl group) in the first singlet excited state. This may explain the observed red shifts in the fluorescence spectra in the relevant fluorescent sensing mechanism.

A highly selective naked-eye colorimetric sensor for acetate ion based on 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxyaldehyde-di-(p-substitutedphenyl-hydrazone)

A new and simple colorimetric sensor with high selectivity for acetate ion based on 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxyaldehyde-di-(p-substitutedphenylhydrazone) receptor 2 has been synthesized. The selectively binding ability of receptor 2 to acetate ion over other anions tested was demonstrated by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy in DMSO. Comparing with other anions studied, the UV-vis absorption spectrum in dimethyl sulfoxide shows significant response toward acetate ion with high selectivity, and meanwhile dramatic color change is observed from yellow to green in the presence of acetate ion (5 x 10(-6)mol/L). Little UV-vis absorption spectrum change has occurred when receptor 2 was titrated with other different guest (F(-), Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), H(2)PO(4)(-) and OH(-)). In addition, the (1)H NMR spectrum titration shows deprotonation of the receptor in the presence of acetate ion.

Photophysical and anion sensing properties of platinum(ii) terpyridyl complexes with phenolic ethynyl ligands

A series of platinum(II) terpyridyl complexes with phenolic ethynyl ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Their photophysical and sensing properties towards anions such as fluoride, acetate and dihydrogenphosphate have been investigated. These complexes show a colorimetric response and fluorescence quenching in the presence of anions including fluoride, acetate and dihydrogenphosphate, and selective sensing towards fluoride in some cases. The sensing mechanism has been investigated by spectrophotometric and 1H NMR titration.