Recent Advances in Fluorescent Based Chemical Probes for the Detection of Perchlorate Ions

This review highlights recent advancements and challenges in fluorescence-based chemical sensors for selective and sensitive detection of perchlorate, a persistent environmental pollutant and global concern due to its health and safety implications. Perchlorate is a highly persistent inorganic pollutant found in drinking water, soil, and air, with known endocrine-disruptive properties due to its interference with iodide uptake by the thyroid gland. Human exposure mainly occurs through contaminated water and food. Additionally, perchlorates are prevalent in improvised explosives, causing numerous civilian casualties, making their detection important in a worldwide aspect. Fluorescence-based chemical sensors provide a valuable tool for the selective detection of perchlorate ions due to their simplicity and applicability across various fields, including biology, pharmacology, military, and environmental science. This review article overviews perchlorate chemistry, occurrence, and remediation strategies, compares regulatory limits, and examines fluorescence-based detection mechanisms. It systematically summarizes recent advancements in designing at least a dozen fluorescence-based chemical materials for detecting perchlorate in the environment over the past decade. Key focus areas include the design and molecular architecture of synthetic chemical chromophores for perchlorate sensing and the photochemistry mechanisms driving their effectiveness. The main findings indicate that there has been significant progress in the development of reliable and robust fluorescence-based sensors with higher selectivity and sensitivity for perchlorate detection. However, several challenges remain, such as improving detection limits and sensor stability. The review outlines potential future research directions, emphasizing the need for further innovation in sensor design and development. It aims to enhance understanding and spur advances that could create more efficient and robust chemical scaffolds for perchlorate sensing. By addressing current limitations and identifying opportunities for improvement, the review provides a comprehensive resource for researchers working to develop better detection methods for this significant environmental pollutant.

Selective Turn-On Luminescent Recognition of Perchlorate Ion Using Pyridyl-Benzimidazole-Based Probe

Anions play a crucial role in various environmental, chemical, and biological processes. Among various anions, the production of perchlorate (ClO4 -) ion is expected to rise in upcoming years, and thus, an efficient method for the detection of perchlorate ion is highly desirable. In this effort, a pyridyl-benzimidazole-based luminescent probe (RSB1) containing two N-H donor sites has been synthesized for selective detection of perchlorate ion. Different spectral techniques such as FT-IR, NMR, ESI-mass, UV-Vis, and fluorescence analyses have been used to characterize this probe. High selectivity of RSB1 for ClO4 - was realized even in presence of strongly interfering species in aqueous-acetonitrile (CH3CN-H2O; 4:1, v/v) solution. Notably, RSB1 served as a "turn-on" perchlorate-responsive probe and exhibited an emission enhancement at 363 nm when excited at 300 nm. The detection limit (LoD) and the binding constant (Kb) values were depicted to be 0.121 μM and 2.6 × 105 M-1, respectively, while the binding mechanism for RSB1-ClO4 - was validated via Job's plot, NMR, and DFT analyses. Furthermore, this probe was successfully employed to trace perchlorate in real samples such as tap water, distilled water, and soil samples with good to excellent recovery values.

Carbohydrazone/Thiocarbohydrazone-Based Dual-Responsive Probes for Highly Selective Detection of Cu2+/Fe3+ Cations and F-/ClO4 - Anions, and Their Application in Bioimaging of Live Cells and Zebrafish Larvae

Four dual-responsive probe molecules 1,5-bis(thiophene-2-carbaldehyde)carbohydrazone (R1), 1,5-bis(thiophene-2-carbaldehyde)thiocarbohydrazone (R2), 1,5-bis(indole-3-carbaldehyde)carbohydrazone (R3), and 1,5-bis(indole-3-carbaldehyde)thiocarbohydrazone (R4) were synthesized, characterized, and investigated for their sensing efficacy. The initial sensing behavior of the probes was tested by colorimetric signaling, followed by spectral and theoretical techniques, which supported the dual-sensing ability of the selected inorganic ions. The probes exhibited highly selective optical recognition for Cu2+/Fe3+ cations and F-/ClO4 - anions compared to the tested cations and anions. Interestingly, the addition of Cu2+ and F- ions to the probes resulted in "turn-on" fluorescence responses. Job's plot studies showed 1:2 stoichiometry between the probe molecules and cations and 1:1 stoichiometry between the probe molecules and anions. The binding constant of the probe molecules with the sensed ions was determined by the Benesi-Hildebrand equation and was found to be between 7.08 × 104 and 7.44 × 106 M-1 with a limit of detection between 0.11 and 0.80 μM, in CH3CN:DMF (9:1, v/v). Density functional theory calculations established the nature of the interaction between the probe molecules and sensed ions. Further, the practical utility of the probes was successfully demonstrated with paper strip experiments, fluorescence imaging of Cu2+ ions in DrG cells and zebrafish larvae, as well as in the development of molecular logic gates.

Pyrene-Based Cationic Fluorophores with High Affinity for BF4-, PF6-, and ClO4- Anions: Detection and Removal

Anions play an indispensable role in the balance and regulation of the ecological environment and human health; however, excess anions can cause serious ecological and environment problems. Therefore, the detection and removal of excess anions in aqueous solution is not only a technological problem but also crucial for environmental protection. Herein, a set of water-soluble pyrene-based cationic fluorophores were synthesized, which exhibit high sensitivity for the detection of the anions BF4-, PF6-, and ClO4- via electrostatic interactions. Such fluorescent probes exhibit "turn-on" emission characteristics even at low concentrations of anions due to anion-π+ interactions. Moreover, these fluorescence probes act as efficient precipitating agents for the removal of the BF4-, PF6-, and ClO4- anions from an aqueous environment. This work opens up new avenues for future research on pyrene-based fluorophores as turn-on fluorescence probes for anion detection and as excellent precipitating agents in environmental settings.

Revisiting imidazolium receptors for the recognition of anions: highlighted research during 2010-2019

Imidazolium based receptors selectively recognize anions, and have received more and more attention. In 2006 and 2010, we reviewed the mechanism and progress of imidazolium salt recognition of anions, respectively. In the past ten years, new developments have emerged in this area, including some new imidazolium motifs and the identification of a wider variety of biological anions. In this review, we discuss the progress of imidazolium receptors for the recognition of anions in the period of 2010-2019 and highlight the trends in this area. We first classify receptors based on motifs, including some newly emerging receptors, as well as new advances in existing receptor types at this stage. Then we discuss separately according to the types of anions, including ATP, GTP, DNA and RNA.

Phase-transfer extraction for the fast quantification of perchlorate anions in water

Supramolecular approaches for the quantitative anion analysis in water remain scarce due to the lack of receptors that effectively bind anions in this medium. Herein, we present a novel, fast and easy, supramolecular approach for a selective and quantitative analysis of perchlorate anions in water, coupling the UV-Vis spectroscopic method and phase-transfer extraction of anions by a water-insoluble anion receptor.

Imidazolium Based Probes for Recognition of Biologically and Medically Relevant Anions

The imidazolium derivatives due to their positive charge possess one of the most polarized and positively charged proton at C2-H to form strong ionic hydrogen bond (also termed as double ionic hydrogen bond) with anions and also provide opportunities for anion - π interactions with electron-deficient imidazolium ring. In the present review article, imidazolium based molecular probes for their ability to recognize inorganic anions like halides, cyanide, perchlorate, carboxylic acids, phosphate, sulfate etc. and their derived molecules viz. nucleotides, DNA, RNA, surfactants, proteins, etc have been discussed. The review covers the literature published after year 2009 and has > 130 references. The previous literature has already been discussed by Yoon et al. in two review articles published in Chem. Soc. Rev. 2006 and 2010.

Ratiometric fluorophore for quantification of iodide under physiological conditions: applications in urine analysis and live cell imaging

The ratio of fluorescence intensity of fluorophoreI_{395 nm}/I_{475 nm}vs.log [I⁻] undergoes linear change over a broad iodide concentration range of 10⁻⁹to 10⁻⁵M and finds application in urine analysis and live cell imaging.

Fluorescence ratiometric properties induced by nanoparticle plasmonics and nanoscale dye dynamics

Nanoscale transport of merocyanine 540 within/near the plasmon field of gold nanoparticles was recognized as an effective inducer of single-excitation dual-emission ratiometric properties. With a high concentration of the signal transducer (ammonium), a 700% increase in fluorescence was observed at the new red-shifted emission maximum, compared to a nanoparticle free sensor membrane. A previously nonrecognized isosbestic point is demonstrated at 581.4 ± 0.1 nm. The mechanism can be utilized for enhanced and simplified ratiometric optical chemical sensors and potentially for thin film engineering to make solar cells more effective and stable by a broader and more regulated absorption.