A ferrocene-based chemo-dosimeter for colorimetric and electrochemical detection of cyanide and its estimation in cassava flour

A simple chemo-dosimeter VDP2 bearing a ferrocene moiety was designed, synthesized, and characterized, and exhibited both chromogenic and electrochemical responses selectively for CN- in H2O-DMSO (9 : 1, v/v) medium. The probe VDP2 showed an instantaneous color change from colorless to yellow with CN- that can readily be observed visually. The deprotonation of the benzimidazole -NH, followed by nucleophilic addition of CN- to the olefinic C-atom, as evidenced by 1H and 13C NMR titration experiments, caused the colorimetric and electrochemical responses. The mass spectral study, CV, FTIR and Mulliken charges computed well supported the proposed mechanism. The electrochemical limit of detection was calculated to be 72 nM. The results of DFT and TD-DFT calculations suggested that the colorless nature of the probe VDP2 is due to weak intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) transition and the yellow color of the VDP2+CN adduct is due to through-space ICT transition. Above all, the probe could be an ideal candidate for monitoring cyanide in water samples and cassava flour with practical significance. A simple and convenient colorimetric method was developed to determine cyanide content in cassava flour.

Recent development of small-molecule fluorescent probes based on phenothiazine and its derivates

Fluorescence probes, as analytical tools with the ability to perform rapid and sensitive detection of target analytes, have made outstanding contributions to environmental analysis and bioassays. Considering the expanding developments in these areas, fluorophores play a key role in the de-sign of fluorescence probes. Compared to classical fluorophores, phenothiazines with elec-tron-rich characteristics have been widely applied to construct electron donor-acceptor dyes, which exhibit outstanding performance in both fluorimetric and colorimetric analysis. In addition, these probes also exhibit the pronounced ability in both solution and solid-state, achieving portable detection for environmental analysis. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the performance of phenothiazine-based fluorescent probes for detecting various analytes, especially in cations, anions, ROS/RSS, enzyme and other small molecules. The general design rules, response mechanisms and practical applications of the probes are analyzed, followed by a discussion of exiting challenges and future research perspectives. It is hoped that this review will provide a few strategies for the development of phenothiazine-based fluorescent probes.

Changes in Protonation Sites of 3-Styryl Derivatives of 7-(dialkylamino)-aza-coumarin Dyes Induced by Cucurbit[7]uril

The incorporation of a guest, with different basic sites, into an organized system (host), such as macrocycles, could stabilize, detect, or promote the formation of a certain protomer. In this context, this work aimed to study the influence of cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) on dyes such as 7-(dimethylamino)-aza-coumarins, which have more than one basic site along their molecular structure. For this, three 3-styryl derivatives of 7-(dialkylamino)-aza-coumarin dyes (SAC1-3) were synthesized and characterized by NMR, ESI-HRMS and IR. The spectral behaviour of the SACs in the absence and presence of CB7 was studied. The results showed large shifts in the UV-vis spectrum in acid medium: a hypsochromic shift of ≈5400 cm⁻¹ (SAC1-2) and ≈3500 cm⁻¹ (SAC3) in the absence of CB7 and a bathochromic shift of ≈4500 cm⁻¹ (SAC1-3) in the presence of CB7. The new absorptions at long and short wavelengths were assigned to the corresponding protomers by computational calculations at the density functional theory (DFT) level. Additionally, the binding mode was corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations. Findings revealed that in the presence of CB7 the heterocyclic nitrogen was preferably protonated instead of the dialkylamino group. Namely, CB7 induces a change in the protonation preference at the basic sites of the SACs, as consequence of the molecular recognition by the macrocycle.

Reactive Phenanthrene Derivatives as Markers of Amino Groups in Fluorescence Microscopy of Surface Modified Micro-Zeolite L

Two reactive phenanthrene derivatives, 4-(1H phenanthrol [9,10-d] imidazole-2-yl) benzaldehyde (PIB) and 6,9-dimethoxyphenanthro[9,10-c]furan-1,3-dione (PA) with high fluorescent quantum yields were prepared and used as fluorescent marker in fluorescence microscopy. In particular, silane modified μmZeolite-L containing amino group (-NH₂) in the surface were labeled with the phenanthrene derivatives allowing good imaging resolution and spectroscopy measurements. The presence of a large Stokes shift of the probes due to their intramolecular charge-transfer character gives an advantage of the compounds in confocal laser fluorescence microscopy due to easy signal separation in excitation and emission wavelengths. On the other hand, these results open up the possibility of using these probes for visualization of Zeolite-based materials commonly used as catalysts in thermal and photochemical reactions.

A High-Throughput Screening Method for the Directed Evolution of Hydroxynitrile Lyase towards Cyanohydrin Synthesis

Chiral cyanohydrins are useful intermediates in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. In nature, hydroxynitrile lyases (HNLs) are a kind of elegant tool for enantioselective hydrocyanation of carbonyl compounds. However, currently available methods for demonstrating hydrocyanation are still stalled at precise, but low-throughput, GC or HPLC analyses. Herein, we report a chromogenic high-throughput screening (HTS) method that is feasible for the cyanohydrin synthesis reaction. This method was highly anti-interference and sensitive, and could be used to directly profile the substrate scope of HNLs either in cell-free extract or fermentation clear broth. This HTS method was also validated by generating new variants of PcHNL5 that presented higher catalytic efficiency and stronger acidic tolerance in variant libraries.

Resorufin-based responsive probes for fluorescence and colorimetric analysis

The fluorescence imaging technique has attracted increasing attention in the detection of various biological molecules in situ and in real-time owing to its inherent advantages including high selectivity and sensitivity, outstanding spatiotemporal resolution and fast feedback. In the past few decades, a number of fluorescent probes have been developed for bioassays and imaging by exploiting different fluorophores. Among various fluorophores, resorufin exhibits a high fluorescence quantum yield, long excitation/emission wavelength and pronounced ability in both fluorescence and colorimetric analysis. This fluorophore has been widely utilized in the design of responsive probes specific for various bioactive species. In this review, we summarize the advances in the development of resorufin-based fluorescent probes for detecting various analytes, such as cations, anions, reactive (redox-active) sulfur species, small molecules and biological macromolecules. The chemical structures of probes, response mechanisms, detection limits and practical applications are investigated, which is followed by the discussion of recent challenges and future research perspectives. This review article is expected to promote the further development of resorufin-based responsive fluorescent probes and their biological applications.

Concurrent detection and treatment of cyanide-contaminated water using mechanosynthesized receptors

The development of receptors that can detect as well as treat cyanide ions in aqueous samples is indispensable for environmental protection. Herein, we present the bulk solvent-free and instant green synthesis of a series of turn-on fluorimetric probes that can specifically detect the deadly poison cyanide among various anions and metal ions in water. Selective recognition of cyanide by the mechanosynthesized compounds is even observable by the naked eyes, which remained unaffected in the presence of various challenging species. NMR spectroscopic investigation supports the chemodosimetric sensing of cyanide by the receptors. A remarkable 55-83 fold fluorescence enhancement by the probes enabled us to reach a limit of detection (LOD) in the range of 8-26 ppb, well below the permissible limit of cyanide in drinking water. Being minuscule soluble in water, cyanide treatment studies with the ionophores showed greater than 99% reduction in the free cyanide concentration after three consecutive cycles of operation. Furthermore, the compounds can be used as sensitive probes for the estimation of cyanide in human blood serum in physiological conditions. Overall, the results presented in this article will certainly find great use in the area of cyanide pollution with regard to simultaneous sensing and treatment of free cyanide, which is heretofore unprecedented.

Directional Approach to Enantiomerically Enriched Functionalized [7]Oxa-helicenoids and Groove-Based Selective Cyanide Sensing

Several regioselective functionalized mono- and disubstituted [7]oxa-helicenoids have been synthesized in the enantiomerically enriched (90-99% ee) form. These functionalized helicenoids exhibited pronounced spectral and chiroptical properties suitable for sensing applications. In particular, corresponding helicenoid's mono and dialdehydes have been effectively used as chemodosimeters for selective detection of cyanide anions over other anions, while simple aromatic aldehydes do not function as cyanide sensors. The groove available in the helical host plays a crucial role in the sensing. The enantiomerically enriched nature of the sensors allows the use of electronic circular dichroism as an uncommon detection tool for cyanide anions, along with conventional fluorescence and NMR methods.

Copper Complex-Embedded Vesicular Receptor for Selective Detection of Cyanide Ion and Colorimetric Monitoring of Enzymatic Reaction

Detection of environmentally important ion cyanide (CN^-) has been done by a new method involving displacement of both metal and indicator, metal indicator displacement approach (MIDA) on the vesicular interface. Terpyridine unit was selected as the binding site for metal (Cu²⁺), whereas Eosin-Y (EY) was preferred as an indicator. About 150 nm sized nanoscale vesicular ensemble (Lip-1.Cu) has shown good selectivity and sensitivity for CN^- without any interference from other biologically and environmentally important anions. Otherwise, copper complexes are known for the interferences of binding with phosphates and amino acids. The Lip-1.Cu nanoreceptor also has the possibility to be used for real-time colorimetric scanning for the released HCN via enzymatic reactions. Lip-1.Cu has several superiorities over the other reported sensor systems. It has worked in 100% aqueous environment, fast response time with colorimetric monitoring of enzymatic reaction, and low detection limit.

Fluorescence light-up detection of cyanide in water based on cyclization reaction followed by ESIPT and AIEE

Schiff base 1 (2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-((2-hydroxyphenyl-imino)-methyl)phenol) containing two hydroxyl groups could undergo an oxidative cyclization reaction and then generate hydroxyphenylbenzoxazole (HBO) 2 when CN^- was present as a catalyst. The multistep cyclization reaction was proved by spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectra. C[double bond, length as m-dash]N isomerization is the predominant decay process of the excited states, so sensor 1 is weakly emissive in solution at ambient temperature. When 1 reacts with CN^-, the emission is remarkably enhanced, where 1 is converted to 2. The cyclization product HBO 2 displays bright green luminescence in micellar due to the ESIPT (excited-state intramolecular proton transfer) as well as AIEE (aggregation-induced emission enhancement) effect. The detection limit is 5.92 × 10^-7 M, lower than the WHO guideline of CN^- in drinking water (1.9 μM). The selective and competitive experiments reveal that sensor 1 shows high sensing selectivity and sensitivity for CN^- over other anions. Test papers containing absorbed 1 were prepared and applied for practical application of cyanide detection.

Triphenylamine based reactive coloro/fluorimetric chemosensors: Structural isomerism and solvent dependent sensitivity and selectivity

Triphenyl amine based chemosensors, (2-(((2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)imino)methyl)-5-(diphenylamino)phenol (ortho-CPDP) and 2-(((4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)imino)methyl)-5-(diphenylamino)phenol (para-CPDP), showed solvent and isomerism dependent selective coloro/fluorometric sensing of multiple metal ions (Fe³⁺, Al³⁺ and Zn²⁺) with distinguishable responses. In CH₃CN, ortho and para-CPDP selectively produced yellow color upon addition of Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ that was slowly disappeared. The yellow color of ortho and para-CPDP in DMF was decolourised selectively by adding Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺. Both ortho and para-CPDP in CH₃CN showed nearly similar rate of decolourization for Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺. However, the rate of decolourization of ortho and para-CPDP in DMF was different for Fe³⁺ (10μM, 8min) and Al³⁺ (5×10^-4M, 40min) ions. The limit of detection of para-CPDP for Fe3+ is 10μM and Al³⁺ 500μM. The mechanistic studies revealed the imine hydrolysis of ortho and para-CPDP in presence of Lewis acidic Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺. The reactivity based sensing lead to high selectivity for Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. Further, para-CPDP exhibited selective fluorescence turn-on for Zn²⁺ in DMF (λ_max=513nm) and detection limit of 6.0μM. Thus, reactive chemosensors, ortho and para-CPDP, exhibited selective and distinguishable colorimetric sensing of Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ ions and isomerism and solvent dependent fluorescence sensing of Zn²⁺.

Naphthalimide–coumarin conjugate: ratiometric fluorescent receptor for self-calibrating quantification of cyanide anions in cells

A naphthalimide–coumarin conjugate shows invariable green fluorescence and CN⁻-selective blue fluorescence, and facilitates rapid (within 3 min) and sensitive (1.8 μM) ratiometric detection of CN⁻ in cells.