Dimethyl Sulfoxide-Free and Water-Soluble Fluorescent Probe for Detection of Bovine Serum Albumin Prepared by Ionic Co-assembly of Amphiphiles

Detection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) is an important issue in the sense of medical applications and enzymatic reactions; however, the recently developed fluorescent probes require the involvement of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which may be detrimental to proteins. In this study, we demonstrated a DMSO-free and water-soluble fluorescent probe prepared by ionic co-assembly of amphiphiles. The cationic amphiphile is a newly designed molecule (denoted by DPP-12) bearing a conjugated diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and two tetraphenylethylene groups. It turns out that the fluorescence emission of DPP-12 depends on the amount of anionic amphiphilic sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). The fluorescence intensity first increases and then decreases with the concentration of SDBS, and each branch presents a linear relationship. BSA consumes SDBS by the formation of complexes, thus leading to an increase of fluorescence intensity of the mixed solution of DPP-12 and SDBS. Therefore, the mixed solution of DPP-12 and SDBS was applied as a fluorescent probe to detect the low concentration of BSA by back-titration. This fluorescent probe does not require DMSO and has good tolerance to metal ions in blood and good photostability. The limit of detection is as low as 940 nM, almost 3 orders of magnitude lower than the content in organisms.

A Facile, Efficient and Solvent-Free Titanium (IV) Ethoxide Catalysed Knoevenagel Condensation of Aldehydes and Active Methylenes

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Titanium ethoxide has been employed as a novel and efficient reagent for the Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes with active methylenes such as diethyl malonate and ethyl cyanoacetate under solvent free conditions to afford substituted olefins in high to excellent yields. The reaction is suitable for a variety of aromatic, aliphatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes with various active methylenes. Parallel to this, microwave irradiation has been utilized to achieve improved reaction rates and enhanced yields. Herein, we illustrated a convenient method for the preparation of α,β-unsaturated compounds using both conventional and microwave irradiation methods. An efficient and solvent free Knoevenagel condensation between aldehydes and active methylenes was developed using titanium ethoxide. The procedure proved to be successful with a wide range of substrates such as aromatic, aliphatic and heterocyclic aldehydes and various active methylenes to afford substituted olefins. The reaction was also carried out under microwave irradiation to accomplish the corresponding olefins with improved reaction rates, yields and cleaner reaction profiles.We have developed an efficient and novel methodology for the synthesis of olefinic compounds by Knoevenagel condensation under solvent-free conditions using titanium ethoxide, for the first time, as a reagent as well as a solvent. This method is appropriate for the synthesis of a variety of aromatic aldehydes containing various electron-donating and withdrawing groups, aliphatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes. The significant advantages offered by this methodology could be applied to various active methylenes in order to offer the corresponding Knoevenagel products. Thus, we believe that this method delivers high conversions, cleaner reaction profiles under solvent-free reaction conditions and shorter reaction times, all of which make it a very useful and attractive approach for the preparation of a wide range of substituted olefins.

Stimuli-responsive aggregation-induced fluorescence in a series of biphenyl-based Knoevenagel products: effects of substituent active methylene groups on π-π interactions

A series of three biphenyl-based Knoevenagel products (denoted 1a, 1b, 1c) with active methylene groups has been synthesized. Compounds 1a and 1b show strong solid-state fluorescence, whereas 1c displays low emission. Effects of substituent groups in condensed phase packing of the molecules have been investigated and correlated with their photophysical properties. Interestingly, compound 1a exhibits mechanofluorochromism with emission color changes from yellow to green (wavelength shift of 40 nm) after mechanical grinding. Furthermore, fluorescence of 1a and 1b is turned off under alkaline conditions, making them potential candidates for aggregation-enhanced emission-based pH sensors.

A one-step method for covalent bond immobilization of biomolecules on silica operated in aqueous solution

A simple, one-step method for covalent bond immobilization of biomolecules on silica operated in water is described. In the approach, an NHS-ester linked methallylsilane is utilized as a bifunctional linker to couple the biomolecule to the silica surface. Weak organic acid such as acetic acid activates the silica surface enough to react with bifunctional linker without destroying activity of biomolecule.

DABCO-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes with ethyl cyanoacetate using hydroxy ionic liquid as a promoter

N-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-pyridinium chloride ([HyEtPy]Cl) was synthesized and explored as a novel promoter for 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane (DABCO)-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation reactions, which showed better catalytic activity compared to other ionic liquid (IL) that had no hydroxyl group attached to the IL scaffold. The effect of hydrogen bond formation between the hydroxyl group of [HyEtPy]Cl and the carbonyl group of aldehyde played an important role in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. In the [HyEtPy]Cl–H₂O–DABCO composite system, Knoevenagel condensation reactions proceeded smoothly and cleanly, and the corresponding Knoevenagel condensation products were obtained in good to excellent yields in all cases examined. This protocol provides a versatile solvent–catalyst system, which has notable advantages such as being eco-friendly, ease of work-up and convenient reuse of the ionic liquid.

N-(2-Hydroxy-ethyl)-pyridinium chloride ([HyEtPy]Cl) was synthesized and explored as a novel promoter for 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane (DABCO)-catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation reactions, excellent catalytic activity was obtained.

An efficient catalyst-free one-pot synthesis of primary amides from the aldehydes of the Baylis–Hillman reaction

Herein, a facile and efficient method for the preparation of allyl amides from the aldehydes of Baylis–Hillman adducts has been developed using a hydroxylamine/methanol system under a catalyst-free condition.

Bovine serum albumin catalyzed one-pot, three-component synthesis of dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives in aqueous ethanol

A BSA catalyzed synthesis of dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives via a one pot, three component reaction of an aldehyde/ketone/isatin, malononitrile and 3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-(4H)-one in H₂O–EtOH (7 : 3) at ambient temperature is reported.

Albumin as a promiscuous biocatalyst in organic synthesis

Albumin emerged as a biocatalyst in 1980 and the continuing interest in this protein is proved by numerous papers.