Dihomooxacalix[4]arene-Based Fluorescent Receptors for Anion and Organic Ion Pair Recognition

Fluorescent dihomooxacalix[4]arene-based receptors 5a-5c, bearing two naphthyl(thio)ureido groups at the lower rim via a butyl spacer, were synthesised and obtained in the cone conformation in solution. The X-ray crystal structures of 1,3- (5a) and 3,4-dinaphthylurea (5b) derivatives are reported. Their binding properties towards several anions of different geometries were assessed by ¹H-NMR, UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence titrations. Structural and energetic insights of the naphthylurea 5a and 5b complexes were also obtained using quantum mechanical calculations. The data showed that all receptors follow the same trend, the association constants increase with the anion basicity, and the strongest complexes were obtained with F^-, followed by the oxoanions AcO^- and BzO^-. Proximal urea 5b is a better anion receptor compared to distal urea 5a, and both are more efficient than thiourea 5c. Compounds 5a and 5b were also investigated as heteroditopic receptors for biologically relevant alkylammonium salts, such as the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA·HCl) and the betaine deoxycarnitine·HCl. Chiral recognition towards the guest sec-butylamine·HCl was also tested, and a 5:2 selectivity for (R)-sec-BuNH₃⁺·Cl^- towards (P) or (M) enantiomers of the inherently chiral receptor 5a was shown. Based on DFT calculations, the complex [(S)-sec-BuNH₃⁺·Cl^-/(M)-5a] was indicated as the more stable.

6-Polyamino-substituted quinolines: synthesis and multiple metal (CuII, HgII and ZnII) monitoring in aqueous media

Chemoselective palladium-catalyzed arylation of polyamines with 6-bromoquinoline has been explored to prepare chelators for the detection of metal cations in aqueous media. The introduction of a single aromatic moiety into non-protected polyamine molecules was achieved using the commercially available Pd(dba)2/BINAP precatalyst to afford nitrogen chelators, in which the aromatic signalling unit is directly attached to the polyamine residue. Water-soluble receptors were then synthesized using N-alkylation of these polyamines by hydrophilic coordinating residues. By combining rich photophysical properties of the 6-aminoquinoline unit with a high coordination affinity of chelating polyamines and a hydrophilic character of carboxamido-substituted phosphonic acid diesters in a single molecular device, we synthesized chemosensor 5 for selective double-channel (UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies) detection of CuII ions in aqueous media at physiological levels. This receptor is suitable for the analysis of drinking water and fabrication of paper test strips for the naked-eye detection of CuII ions under UV-light. By increasing the number of donor sites we also obtained chemosensor 6 which is efficient for the detection of HgII ions. Moreover, chemosensor 6 is also suitable for multiple detection of metal ions because it chelates not only HgII but also CuII and ZnII ions displaying different responses of emission in the presence of these three cations.

The investigation of the G-quadruplex aptamer selectivity to Pb2+ ion: a joint molecular dynamics simulation and density functional theory study

The aptamers with the ability to form a G-quadruplex structure can be stable in the presence of some ions. Hence, study of the interactions between such aptamers and ions can be beneficial to determine the highest selective aptamer toward an ion. In this article, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and quantum mechanics (QM) calculations have been applied to investigate the selectivity of the T30695 aptamer toward Pb²⁺ in comparison with some ions. The Free Energy Landscape (FEL) analysis indicates that Pb²⁺ has remained inside the aptamer during the MD simulation, while the other ions have left it. The Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA) binding energies prove that the conformational stability of the aptamer is the highest in the presence of Pb²⁺. According to the compaction parameters, the greatest compressed ion-aptamer complex, and hence, the highest ion-aptamer interaction have been induced in the presence of Pb²⁺. The contact maps clarify the closer contacts between the nucleotides of the aptamer in the presence of Pb²⁺. The density functional theory (DFT) results show that Pb²⁺ forms the most stable complex with the aptamer, which is consistent with the MD results. The QM calculations reveal that the N-H bonds and the O…H distances are the longest and the shortest, respectively, in the presence of Pb²⁺. The obtained results verify that the strongest hydrogen bonds (HBs), and hence, the most compressed aptamer structure are induced by Pb²⁺. Besides, atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses confirm the results.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Synthesis of Calixarene-Capped Silver Nanoparticles for Colorimetric and Amperometric Detection of Mercury (HgII, Hg0)

Calixarene-functionalized water dispersible silver nanoparticles have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of UV-vis, IR, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis, and their sensing properties toward metal ions have been investigated. They selectively detect Hg2+ and Hg0 in solution and vapor phases, respectively, with distinct color change. Interference study with mixture of metal ions revealed no interference from any other metal ions used in this study. Their mechanism of detection involved Hg2+-aided displacement of calixarene moiety from the surface of the functionalized nanoparticles, followed by the formation of Ag-Hg amalgam due to interaction of Hg2+ with Ag0 and also the formation of assembly of Ag0 nanoparticles by dipole-dipole interaction of the bare-surfaced nanoparticles. Electrochemical study revealed that with the aid of functionalized nanoparticles, Hg2+ can be detected amperometrically with high sensitivity. The detection limits obtained for Hg2+ by UV-vis study and amperometry are 0.5 nM (0.1 ppb) and 10 nM (2 ppb), respectively. The new material has been used to detect Hg2+ in aqueous real sample and Hg0 in soil sample.

A self-assembled nanotube supported by halogen bonding interactions

Upper-rim halogenation of a calix[4]arene modulates the packing of self-assembled nanotubes through the formation of complementary halogen bonding interactions.

Synthesis of quinolines via copper-catalyzed domino reactions of enaminones

Enaminones showcase synthetic utility for the synthesis of quinoline derivatives via copper-catalyzed domino reactions involving C–N bond formation, aldol reaction and dehydration.

Functionalized calix[4]arene as a colorimetric dual sensor for Cu(ii) and cysteine in aqueous media: experimental and computational study

The sensors developed detect Cu²⁺and the metal complex recognizes cysteine, detectable by the naked eye, and DFT calculations corroborate the experimental results.

Calix[4]arene Based Highly Efficient Fluorescent Sensor for Au(3+) and I(.)

This approach disclose the selective fluorogenic ion sensing ability of 5,11,17,23-tetratertbutyl-25,27-bis((2hydroxynaphthylimino)1,2-ethylenediaminecarbonylmethoxy)-26,28 dihydroxycalix[4]arene (C4NSB). Binding property of receptor probed by using selected various cations and anions with conferring of results that demonstrates 'turn-off' fluorescence response and significantly high chromogenic selectivity toward Au(3+) and I(-). Furthermore, selective nature of receptor was investigated in the presence of different co-existing competing ions. The limit of detection (LOD) for Au(3+) and I(-) was determined as 1.5 × 10(-5) and 4.5 × 10(-6) M respectively. Receptor C4NSB form (1:1) stoichiometric complex with both ions and their binding constants were calculated as 8.0 × 10(2) for Au(3+) and 15.6 × 10(2) M(-1) for I(-). Complexes were also characterized through FT-IR spectroscopy.

Detection of NaCN in aqueous media using a calixarene-based fluoroionophore containing ruthenium(ii)-bipyridine as the fluorogenic unit

A new fluoroionophore containing a Ru(ii)-bipyridine unit and a calixarene moiety is synthesized. It selectively detects CN⁻ from NaCN in aqueous media; its performance has been tested successfully in real samples.

Ratiometric detection of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in water and real-time monitoring of apyrase activity with a tripodal zinc complex

Two tripodal fluorescent probes Zn⋅L(1,2) have been synthesised, and their anion-binding capabilities were examined by using fluorescence spectroscopy. Probe Zn⋅L(1) allows the selective and ratiometric detection of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) at physiological pH, even in the presence of several competing anions, such as ADP, phosphate and bicarbonate. The probe was applied to the real-time monitoring of the apyrase-catalysed hydrolysis of ATP, in a medium that mimics an extracellular fluid.

Dipicrylamine as a colorimetric sensor for anions: experimental and computational study

Dipicrylamine exhibited colorimetric sensing of F⁻, OAc⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻, detectable by bared-eye, out of a large number of anions. Interestingly, F⁻ binds with one of the phenyl carbon of dipicrylamine.

Sequential recognition of zinc ion and hydrogen sulfide by a new quinoline derivative with logic gate behavior

A Schiff base-type fluorescent chemosensor L has been synthesized for Zn²⁺ detection, and the consequent product of L and Zn²⁺, L–2Zn, is an excellent indicator for H₂S for displacement of Zn²⁺ from the complex L–2Zn.

An ICT based "turn on/off" quinoline armed calix[4]arene fluoroionophore: its sensing efficiency towards fluoride from waste water and Zn2+ from blood serum

A novel structurally simple calix[4]arene appended 8-amidoquinoline linked conjugate was synthesized and has been used as a turn-on fluorescence probe for Zn(2+) and turn off fluorescence probe for F(-). Moreover, this probe has been applied for Zn(2+) detection in blood serum upto 8.7 μM and fluoride detection upto 22 nM in waste water samples, using emission spectra.