Sequence-Specific Relay Recognition of Multiple Anions: An Interplay between Proton Donors and Acceptors

Ratiometric detection of analyte is highly deserving since the technique is free from background correction. This work reports the design and synthesis of a pyridine-end oligo p-phenylenevinylene (OPV) derivative, 1 and its application in ratiometric dual-mode (both colorimetric and fluorogenic) recognition of dual anions, bisulfate (LOD=12.5 ppb) followed by fluoride (LOD=18.2 ppb) by sequence-specific relay (SPR) technique. The colorless probe turns brown with addition of bisulfate and again becomes colorless with the sequential addition of fluoride ion. In addition to such naked-eye color change, interestingly the ratiometric spectroscopic signals are reversible and evidently, the probe is reusable for several cycles. Besides, in presence of bisulfate, the protonated probe molecules, owing to their larger amphiphilic characteristics, formed self-assembled nanostructures. In addition to colorimetric and fluorescent changes, 1 H NMR titration and systematic DFT study evidently establish the underneath proton transfer mechanisms. Such reusable OPV-based chemosensor particularly with the capability of naked-eye recognition of dual anions using the SPR technique is seminal and possibly the first report in the literature.

Hydrogen bond regulated hydrogen sulfate ion recognition: an overview

Hydrogen sulfate possesses substantial biological importance, having a colossal impact on physiological and environmental events. Therefore, several scientific groups have devoted serious effort to the development of versatile colorimetric and fluorimetric HSO4- sensors. Along with the scope, challenges, and significance, this review emphasizes the advancement of the optical recognition of HSO4- based on hydrogen bonding during the past two decades. Moreover, hydrogen-bond-driven proton transfer, ESIPT, ICT, PET, CHEF, and TBET mechanisms that allow for the optical detection of HSO4- are also discussed concisely. The foundation of this review includes the key points of the sensing process, like the nature of spectroscopic changes, selectivity and sensitivity, naked-eye color changes, the reusability of sensors, and the in vivo detection of HSO4-, if any. Special attention is focused on the correlation between the photophysical changes and the underlying interaction mechanisms that triggered the recognition aspect.

Estimation of bisulfate in edible plant foods, dog urine, and drugs: picomolar level detection and bio-imaging in living organisms

In order to explore the properties of any species in solution, the actual, i.e. equilibrium concentration of the free species should be taken into account. Researchers have not paid attention to the deprotonation equilibrium between HSO4- and SO42- while probing bisulfate ion. In this study, we have addressed this concern and developed two zwitterions, CG (coumarin-integrated glycine) and CA (coumarin-integrated alanine), for the selective detection of HSO4- at a picomolar level (50 to 325 pM) with very high binding affinity (∼108 M-1) in pure water at physiological pH. The principle of HSO4- recognition was established via UV-vis and fluorescence techniques. DFT calculations suggested that the H-bonding interactions between the probes and HSO4- are the driving force for this unforeseen selectivity. The membrane penetration ability and nontoxicity of CG/CA enable them to function as staining agents in living brine shrimps and bacteria. The use of these probes for the estimation of HSO4- in various day-to-day edible foods and drugs along with urine samples is unprecedented. The significance and novelty of this study lies in the application and development of assays for estimating bisulfate in several real-world samples that are predominantly aqueous in nature, which are the first of their kind.

Recent chemo-/biosensor and bioimaging studies based on indole-decorated BODIPYs

BODIPY is an important fluorophores due to its enhanced photophysical and chemical properties including outstanding thermal/photochemical stability, intense absorption/emission profiles, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and small Stokes' shifts. In addition to BODIPY, indole and its derivatives have recently gained attention because of their structural properties and particularly biological importance, therefore these molecules have been widely used in sensing and biosensing applications. Here, we focus on recent studies that reported the incorporation of indole-based BODIPY molecules as reporter molecules in sensing systems. We highlight the rationale for developing such systems and evaluate detection limits of the developed sensing platforms. Furthermore, we also review the application of indole-based BODIPY molecules in bioimaging studies. This article includes the evaluation of indole-based BODIPYs from synthesis to characterization and a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of developed reporter systems, making it instructive for researchers in various disciplines for the design and development of similar systems.

A simple benzimidazole styryl-based colorimetric chemosensor for dual sensing application

A new colorimetric styryl-benzimidazole based receptor to recognize more than one analyte trans-2-[4'-(dimethylamino)styryl]benzimidazole) (L1) has been synthesized and fully characterized by ¹³C and ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, UV-vis spectroscopy, and HRMS. Investigation of sensing ability of receptor L1 was carried out in presence of multiple anions (Br^-, CN^-, Cl^-, ClO₄^-, F^-, HSO₄^-, PF₆^-, NO₃^-, S^2-, OH^-, AcO^- and H₂PO₄^-) and cations (Cu²⁺, Cr³⁺, Al³⁺, Mg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Fe³⁺, K⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Pb²⁺, Na⁺, and Zn²⁺) by using UV-vis spectroscopy. Receptor L1 showed colorimetric response towards only for HSO₄^- ion. Receptor L1-HSO₄^- interaction confirmed with the help of ¹H NMR titration. Among various cations, L1 selectively sense the Cu²⁺ and Al³⁺ with the drastic colour change from yellow to green and dark yellow respectively. The stoichiometric binding ratio of L1 with HSO₄^-, Cu²⁺, and Al³⁺ found to be 1:1 by jobs method and HRMS data proved the complex formation between L1 and Cu²⁺/Al³⁺ with very low detection limit. In addition to explore practical applicability of L1, paper strips have been made and used to detect HSO₄^- and Cu²⁺ ions, respectively, up to 10 ppm level.

Fluoride anion sensing mechanism of a BODIPY-linked hydrogen-bonding probe

The sensing mechanism of a fluoride-anion probe BODIPY-amidothiourea (1c) has been elucidated through the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. The theoretical study indicates that in the DMSO/water mixtures the fluorescent sensing has been regulated by the fluoride complex that formed between the probe 1c/two water molecules and the fluoride anion, and the excited-state intermolecular hydrogen bond (H-B) plays an important role in the fluoride sensing mechanism. In the first excited state, the H-Bs of the fluoride complex 1cFH₂ are overall strengthened, which induces the weak fluorescence emission. In addition, molecular orbital analysis demonstrates that 1cFH₂ has more obvious intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character in the S₁ state than 1cH₂ formed between the probe 1c and two water molecules, which also gives reason to the weaker fluorescence intensity of 1cFH₂ . Further, our calculated UV-vis absorbance and fluorescence spectra are in accordance with the experimental measurements. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A pyrene-benzimidazole composed effective fluoride sensor: potential mimicking of a Boolean logic gate

A highly selective fluoride sensor based on a pyrene benzimidazole unit was developed and studied for recyclable memory function.

Green and Red Fluorescent Dyes for Translational Applications in Imaging and Sensing Analytes: A Dual-Color Flag

Red and green are two of the most-preferred colors from the entire chromatic spectrum, and red and green dyes are widely used in biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, immune-staining, and nanochemistry applications. Selective dyes with green and red excitable chromophores can be used in biological environments, such as tissues and cells, and can be irradiated with visible light without cell damage. This critical review, covering a period of five years, provides an overview of the most-relevant results on the use of red and green fluorescent dyes in the fields of bio-, chemo- and nanoscience. The review focuses on fluorescent dyes containing chromophores such as fluorescein, rhodamine, cyanine, boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY), 7-nitobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-4-yl, naphthalimide, acridine orange, perylene diimides, coumarins, rosamine, Nile red, naphthalene diimide, distyrylpyridinium, benzophosphole P-oxide, benzoresorufins, and tetrapyrrolic macrocycles. Metal complexes and nanomaterials with these dyes are also discussed.

A fluorescence turn-on chemosensor for hydrogen sulfate anion based on quinoline and naphthalimide

A new fluorescence turn-on chemosensor 1 based on quinoline and naphthalimide was prepared and its anion sensing toward various anions behavior was explored in this paper. Sensor 1 exhibited a highly selective fluorescent response toward HSO4(-) with an 8-fold fluorescence intensity enhancement in the presence of 10equiv. of HSO4(-) in DMSO-H2O (1/1, v/v) solution. The sensor also displayed high sensitivity to hydrogen sulfate and the detection limit was calculated to be 7.79×10(-7)M. The sensing mechanism has been suggested to proceed via a hydrolysis process of the Schiff base group. The hydrolysis product has been isolated and further identified by (1)H NMR and MS.

New turn-on fluorescent and colorimetric probe for cyanide detection based on BODIPY-salicylaldehyde and its application in cell imaging

Development of cyanide sensor is important as the anion is harmful to human health and the environment. Herein, a new colorimetric and fluorescent probe GSB based on boron dipyrrole-methene (BODIPY) containing salicylaldehyde group for cyanide detection has been reported. GSB undergoes exclusive colorimetric change from orange to colorless and exhibits selective fluorescence turn-on at 504nm upon the addition of cyanide. Other 13 anions give almost no interference under physiological condition. Detection limit of the new cyanide-sensing GSB is 0.88μM, which is below World Health Organization (WHO) recommended level in drinking water. A calculation by density functional theory (DFT) shows suppression of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism along with the interruption of π-conjugation between salicylaldehyde and BODIPY core by cyanide anion. Cell imaging studies demonstrated that GSB is compatible and capable of sensing cyanide anion in living cells.

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.

Fluorescence Chemosensor for HSO4 (-) Ion Based on Pyrrole-Substituted Salicylimine Zn (2+) Complex: Nanomolar Detection

A novel pyrrole-substituted salicylimine zinc (II) ion complex has been synthesized and evaluated its anion binding affinity. The probe 4 has high selectivity for HSO4 (-) over other anions in CH3OH:H2O (70:30, v/v) solvent system. The emission intensity of 4 was quenched upon addition of HSO4 (-). The probe 4 is highly selective for HSO4 (-) with a detection limit of 40 nm. Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) is responsible for observed change. The binding affinity of 4 for HSO4 (-) was further authenticated through ratiometric change in absorbance profile.

A BODIPY/pyrene-based chemodosimetric fluorescent chemosensor for selective sensing of hydrazine in the gas and aqueous solution state and its imaging in living cells

A BODIPY-based pyrenebutyrate-linked (BPB) chromogenic and fluorogenic probe was synthesized and characterized for the specific detection of hydrazine.

Pitfalls in bromination reactions of zinc porphyrins: two-sided ring opening of the porphyrin macrocycle

Reaction of [Zn(II)(TTP)] (1) (TTP = dianion of 5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis(p-tolyl)porphyrin) with 16 equiv of N-bromosuccinamide (NBS) in methanol at reflux led to the unexpected two-sidedd open-ring brominated product [Zn(II)(C26H20N2O2Br5)2] (2). Similar observations have been made with other meso-substituted zinc porphyrins as well [Zn(II)(por)] {por = dianion of 5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis(aryl)porphyrin; aryl = phenyl (TPP), p-(t)Bu-phenyl (TBPP), m-Cl-phenyl (TClPP)}. The respective products [Zn(II)(C24H16N2O2Br5)2] (3), [Zn(II)(C32H32N2O2Br5)2] (4), and [Zn(II)(C24H14N2O2Cl2Br5)2] (5) have been isolated in good to moderate yields and characterized by elemental analysis and UV-vis, (1)H NMR, and mass spectrometry. Additional bromination reaction of 1 with 8 equiv of NBS in a chloroform/methanol mixture led (after the two-sided ring opening) to nonmetalated brominated bi(pyrrole) product, C36H34N2O4Br4 (6). The detailed structures of complexes 1, 2, 3, and 6, available in a single crystal form, have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Development of a cell permeable ratiometric chemosensor and biomarker for hydrogen sulphate ions in aqueous solution

A newly designed benzimidazol-based water soluble ratiometric chemosensor selective for HSO₄⁻ ions behaves as an efficient biomarker for the detection of the distribution of HSO₄⁻ ions in living cells in HEPES buffer (1 mM; water : ethanol (v/v), 98 : 2).

Recognition and sensing of AcO− and F− using a calix[4]pyrrole-derived hydrazone: a potential molecular keypad lock

Calix[4]pyrroles based colorimetric anion receptor 2 could recognize F⁻ and AcO⁻ anions in DMSO solvent. This type of sensing behaviour could mimic a molecular level keypad lock stimulated by the two sequential chemical inputs (AcO⁻ and F⁻), which has the potential for application in security devices.