Developing a straightforward route toward the synthesis of arylaminomaleimides by palladium-catalyzed arylation of one-pot synthesized aminomaleimides

3-Aryl-4-aminomaleimides have well-demonstrated applications, such as being used as fluorophores and inhibitors. However, their previous synthesis methods have involved tedious multi-step procedures or methods that need pre-functionalized maleimides and toxic or unstable reagents. Here, a feasible method is developed to synthesize these useful compounds. This includes the one-pot preparation of 3-aminomaleimides, followed by their direct arylation through a palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction with various aryl iodides regioselectively at the β-position of their amine substituents. The results show that this method efficiently exhibits a broad scope.

Synthesis of 2-carboxyaniline-substituted maleimides from 2'-nitrochalcones

A practical, one-pot approach to 3-anilino-4-(het)arylmaleimides by simple heating of aqueous DMSO solution of 2'-nitrochalcones with potassium cyanide in the presence of formic acid has been developed. This new reaction provides effective access to a variety of β-substituted α-aminomaleimides which have recently become a subject of growing interest as small, easily modified and environmentally responsive fluorescent probes.

Aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) of tetrarhenium(I) metallacycles and their application as luminescent sensors for nitroaromatics and antibiotics

The self-assembly of tetrarhenium metallacycles [{Re(CO)₃}₂(μ-dhaq)(μ-N-N)]₂ (3a, N-N = 1,3-bis(1-butylbenzimidazol-2-yl)benzene; 3b, N-N = 1,3-bis(1-octylbenzimidazol-2-yl)benzene), (H₂-dhaq = 1,4-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone) and [{Re(CO)₃}₂(μ-thaq)(μ-N-N)]₂ (4, N-N = 1,3-bis(1-butylbenzimidazol-2-yl)benzene), (H₂-thaq = 1,2,4-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone) under solvothermal conditions is described. The metallacycles 3a,b and 4 underwent aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) in THF upon the incremental addition of water. TEM images revealed that metallacycle 3a in a 60% aqueous THF solution formed rectangular aggregates with a wide size distribution, while a 90% aqueous THF solution resulted in the formation of a mixture of nanorods and amorphous aggregates due to rapid and abrupt aggregation. UV-vis and emission spectral profiles supported the formation of nanoaggregates of metallacycles 3a,b and 4 upon the gradual addition of water to a THF solution containing metallacycles. Further studies indicated that these nanoaggregates were excellent probes for the sensitive and selective detection of nitro group containing picric acid (PA) derivatives as well as antibiotics.

Selective anions mediated fluorescence "turn-on", aggregation induced emission (AIE) and lysozyme targeting properties of pyrene-naphthalene sulphonyl conjugate

We have designed and synthesized a novel pyrene-naphthalene sulphonyl conjugate, 1-((1Z)-(4-((Z)-4-(pyrene-1-yl)methyleneamino)phenylsulfonyl)phenylimino)methyl)naphthalene-2-ol (PSN) through a facile two-step reactions. It was characterized by various spectral techniques. Fluorescence spectral studies showed that compound PSN featured fluorescence enhancement upon increasing the water content in THF. This can be attributed to the phenomena of aggregated induced emission (AIE), which is confirmed by SEM and AFM studies, due to the restriction of CHN isomerization of PSN. The anion sensing of PSN was examined with various anions. Among these anions, H₂PO₄^- and F^- ions were selectively sensing with a low detection limit of 3.52 × 10^-7 M and 7.23 × 10^-7 M, respectively, and an obvious color change from yellow to orange was observed by the naked eye. The mechanism of sensing involved the formation of hydrogen bonding interaction between O-H group of PSN and H₂PO₄^-/ F^- ions. The binding of PSN with LYZ was also examined by docking studies, which shows that H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions play crucial roles for the interaction of LYZ toward PSN.

Clusteroluminescence from Cluster Excitons in Small Heterocyclics Free of Aromatic Rings

The study of nonconventional luminescence is important for revealing the luminescence of natural systems and has gradually drawn the attention of researchers in recent years. However, the underlying mechanism is still inexplicable. Herein, the luminescence behavior of two series of simple, heteroatom-containing small molecules without aromatic rings, i.e., maleimide and succinimide derivatives, are studied to gain further mechanistic insight into the nonconventional luminescence process. It has been unveiled that all the molecules exhibit bright and visible luminescence in concentrated solution and solid state and the formation of clusters is the root cause for such behaviors, which can effectively increase the possibility of both the nonradiative n-π* and favorable π-π* transitions and stabilize the excitons formed in the excited state. The distinctive luminescent phenomena and intriguing mechanism presented in this work will be significant for understanding the mechanism of clusteroluminescence and provide new strategies for the rational design of novel luminescent materials.

Synthetic- and DFT modelling studies on regioselective modified Mannich reactions of hydroxy-KYNA derivatives

The syntheses of hydroxy-substituted kynurenic acid (KYNA) derivatives have been achieved by an optimised Conrad–Limpach procedure. The derivatives were then reacted with morpholine and paraformaldehyde, as a representative amine and aldehyde, in a modified Mannich reaction. The newly introduced substituents altered the preferred reaction centre of the KYNA skeleton. A systematic investigation of substitutions was carried out, using different reaction conditions, resulting in mono- or disubstituted derivatives. Product selectivity and regioselectivity were rationalised by DFT calculations disclosing HOMO distribution and NBO charges on the potential nucleophilic centres in the anion of the appropriate KYNA ester assumed to be active components towards the iminium ion intermediate.

New side of KYNA in modified Mannich reaction – systematic investigation of the reactivity of hydroxylated derivatives rationalised with comparative DFT calculations.

Aggregation-Induced Emission Probes for Specific Turn-On Quantification of Bovine Serum Albumin

A series of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescence probes, coined 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives, has been synthesized by Biginelli reactions. Utilizing spectroscopic techniques, their photophysical properties have been comprehensively investigated in working environment both in vitro and in vivo. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to better understand the mechanism of these probes. The interactions between 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazoles with different substituents and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were analyzed using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence, and docking analysis. Studies found that 4H-pyrimido[2,1-b]benzothiazole could bind to bovine serum albumin (BSA) through a hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions, resulting in enhancement of fluorescence emission of probes 1a-6f and fluorescence quenching of BSA. Combined with cell imaging experiments, these provide information on potential effects of benzothiazoles on disease treatment.

Azine based AIEgens with multi-stimuli response towards picric acid

Selective detection of picric acid using AIEgens via fluorescence enhancement and quenching in the monomer and aggregated from respectively.

Aggregation induced emission enhancement (AIEE) of tripodal pyrazole derivatives for sensing of nitroaromatics and vapor phase detection of picric acid

Organosoluble tris-pyrazole compounds aggregate in organic/aqueous solvent mixtures, showing aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE), the latter being quenched by picric acid.

Water Soluble Self-Aggregates Induced Green Emission of Biocompatible Citric Acid-PEG Hyper Branched Polymer

An aliphatic citric acid-PEG hyper-branched polymer (CPHP) with a π-bond on the polymer backbone was synthesized by a single- step melt reaction in which the polymerization and π-bond formation occur simultaneously. The chemical structure of CPHP was confirmed by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and MALDI-TOF mass spectral analyses. Aggregates are generally found to disperse in any solvent but the CPHP aggregates were soluble in water due to their hybrid nature. The π-bond in the aconitate unit induces green emission by CH/π interaction while the PEG unit of CPHP increases its solubility in water. The soluble aggregates induced green emission (SAIE) of the CPHP was investigated by UV-Visible absorption and emission spectra, time- correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) and zeta potential measurements. The fluorescence life time (τf) increased from 4.93 to11.38 ns with an increase in CPHP concentration. The fluorescence quantum yield (Φf) of CPHP can be altered by varying the concentration of CPHP.

Aggregation induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics of quinoline based compound - A versatile fluorescent probe for pH, Fe(III) ion, BSA binding and optical cell imaging

Novel benzimidazoquinoline derivative (AVT) was synthesized through a substitution reaction and characterized by various spectral techniques. Analyzing the optical properties of AVT under absorption and emission spectral studies in different environments exclusively with respect to solvents and pH, intriguing characteristics viz. aggregation induced emission enhancement (AIEE) in the THF solvent and 'On-Off' pH sensing were found at neutral pH. Sensing nature of AVT with diverse metal ions and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was also studied. Among the metal ions, Fe³⁺ ion alone tunes the fluorescence intensity of AVT probe in aqueous medium from "turn-on" to "turn-off" through ligand (probe) to metal charge transfer (LMCT) mechanism. The probe AVT in aqueous medium interacts strongly with BSA due to Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) and the conformational change in BSA was further analyzed using synchronous fluorescence techniques. Docking study of AVT with BSA reveals that the active site of binding is tryptophan residue which is also supported by the experimental results. Interestingly, fluorescent AVT probe in cells was examined through cellular imaging studies using BT-549 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Thus, the single molecule probe based detection of multiple species and stimuli were described.

Aminomaleimide fluorophores: a simple functional group with bright, solvent dependent emission

Amino-substituted maleimides form a new class of highly emissive compounds, with large Stokes shifts (>100 nm) and high quantum yields (up to ∼60%).

Amino-substituted maleimides form a new class of highly emissive compounds, with large Stokes shifts (>100 nm) and high quantum yields (up to ∼60%). Emission is responsive to the maleimide's environment with both a red-shift, and quenching, observed in protic polar solvents. Aminomaleimides are easily functionalised, providing a versatile fluorescent probe.

Phenothiazine and pyridine-N-oxide-based AIE-active triazoles: synthesis, morphology and photophysical properties

AIE triazoles based on phenothiazine and pyridine-N-oxide units provided micro- and nano-crystals with an emission enhancement of 233-fold higher.

Hydrogen-bond assisted, aggregation-induced emission of digitonin

Weakly luminescent glycoside digitonin luminesces strongly after treatment with strong base. This is attributed to the hydrogen bonding interaction between deprotonated digitonin molecules, which lead to restricted rotation around the single bond.

Aggregation-induced emission: the whole is more brilliant than the parts

"United we stand, divided we fall."--Aesop. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) refers to a photophysical phenomenon shown by a group of luminogenic materials that are non-emissive when they are dissolved in good solvents as molecules but become highly luminescent when they are clustered in poor solvents or solid state as aggregates. In this Review we summarize the recent progresses made in the area of AIE research. We conduct mechanistic analyses of the AIE processes, unify the restriction of intramolecular motions (RIM) as the main cause for the AIE effects, and derive RIM-based molecular engineering strategies for the design of new AIE luminogens (AIEgens). Typical examples of the newly developed AIEgens and their high-tech applications as optoelectronic materials, chemical sensors and biomedical probes are presented and discussed.