A high-efficiency salamo-based copper(ii) complex double-channel fluorescent probe

Activity-Based Fluorescent Probes for Hydrogen Sulfide and Related Reactive Sulfur Species

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is not only a well-established toxic gas but also an important small molecule bioregulator in all kingdoms of life. In contemporary biology, H2S is often classified as a "gasotransmitter," meaning that it is an endogenously produced membrane permeable gas that carries out essential cellular processes. Fluorescent probes for H2S and related reactive sulfur species (RSS) detection provide an important cornerstone for investigating the multifaceted roles of these important small molecules in complex biological systems. A now common approach to develop such tools is to develop "activity-based probes" that couple a specific H2S-mediated chemical reaction to a fluorescent output. This Review covers the different types of such probes and also highlights the chemical mechanisms by which each probe type is activated by specific RSS. Common examples include reduction of oxidized nitrogen motifs, disulfide exchange, electrophilic reactions, metal precipitation, and metal coordination. In addition, we also outline complementary activity-based probes for imaging reductant-labile and sulfane sulfur species, including persulfides and polysulfides. For probes highlighted in this Review, we focus on small molecule systems with demonstrated compatibility in cellular systems or related applications. Building from breadth of reported activity-based strategies and application, we also highlight key unmet challenges and future opportunities for advancing activity-based probes for H2S and related RSS.

Small Molecule Optical Probes for Detection of H2S in Water Samples: A Review

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is closely linked to not only environmental hazards, but also it affects human health due to its toxic nature and the exposure risks associated with several occupational settings. Therefore, detection of this pollutant in water sources has garnered immense importance in the analytical research arena. Several research groups have devoted great efforts to explore the selective as well as sensitive methods to detect H2S concentrations in water. Recent studies describe different strategies for sensing this ubiquitous gas in real-life water samples. Though many of the designed and developed H2S detection approaches based on the use of organic small molecules facilitate qualitative/quantitative detection of the toxic contaminant in water, optical detection has been acknowledged as one of the best, attributed to the simple, highly sensitive, selective, and good repeatability features of the technique. Therefore, this review is an attempt to offer a general perspective of easy-to-use and fast response optical detection techniques for H2S, fluorimetry and colorimetry, over a wide variety of other instrumental platforms. The review affords a concise summary of the various design strategies adopted by various researchers in constructing small organic molecules as H2S sensors and offers insight into their mechanistic pathways. Moreover, it collates the salient aspects of optical detection techniques and highlights the future scope for prospective exploration in this field based on the limitations of the existing H2S probes.

Development of a Fluorescein-Based Probe with an "Off-On" Mechanism for Selective Detection of Copper (II) Ions and Its Application in Imaging of Living Cells

Copper is a common metallic element that plays an extremely essential role in the physiological activities of living organisms. The slightest change in copper levels in the human body can trigger various diseases. Therefore, it is important to accurately and efficiently monitor copper ion levels in the human body. Recent studies have shown that fluorescent probes have obvious advantages in bioimaging and Cu²⁺ detection. Therefore, a novel Cu²⁺ probe (N2) was designed and synthesized from fluorescein, hydrazine hydrate and 5-p-nitrophenylfurfural that is sensitive to and can detect Cu²⁺ within 100 s. The response mechanism of the N2 probe to Cu²⁺ was studied by several methods such as Job's plots and MS analysis, which showed that the Cu²⁺ and the N2 probe were coordinated in a complexation ratio of 1:1. In addition, compared with other cations investigated in this study, the N2 probe showed excellent selectivity and sensitivity to Cu²⁺, exhibiting distinct fluorescence absorption at 525 nm. Furthermore, in the equivalent range of 0.1-1.5, there is a good linear relationship between Cu²⁺ concentration and fluorescence intensity, and the detection limit is 0.10 μM. It is worth mentioning that the reversible reaction between the N2 probe and Cu²⁺, as well as the good biocompatibility shown by the probe in bioimaging, make it a promising candidate for Cu²⁺ biosensor applications.

A highly selective and sensitive salamo-salen-salamo hybrid fluorometic chemosensor for identification of Zn2+ and the continuous recognition of phosphate anions

A salamo-salen-salamo hybrid fluorescent chemical sensor (H₄L) was synthesized and characterized. It exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity to Zn²⁺ in physiological pH range. Meanwhile, its zinc(II) complex (L-Zn²⁺) continuously responses phosphate anions in DMF/H₂O (v/v, 9:1) solution. Moreover, the identification processes are explored using characterization methods such as UV-absorption spectra, IR spectra and ESI-MS spectrum. In addition, the coordination mechanism of H₂PO₄^- and Zn²⁺ were successfully exploited to make the chemical sensor reproducible. In short, the sensors H₄L and L-Zn²⁺ will be promising detection devices for Zn²⁺ and phosphate anions.

N-substituted benzenesulfonamide compounds: DNA binding properties and molecular docking studies

Benzenesulfonamide-based imine compounds 5-8 were prepared and screened for their binding properties to the FSdsDNA. The structures of synthesized compounds were elucidated by the spectroscopic and analytical methods. Compounds 5-8 were screened for their interactions with the FSdsDNA. Compound 8 showed the highest binding affinity to the FSdsDNA with intrinsic binding constant of 3.10 × 104 M-1. The compounds caused the quenching of the DNA-EB emission indicating displacement of EB (ethidium bromide) from the FSdsDNA. Finally, the binding interactions between the DNA and binder molecules 5-8 were examined by the molecular docking studies. The compounds locate approximately same region of the minor groove of DNA via hydrogen bonding contacts between the sulfonamide oxygen atoms and the DG10/DG16 nucleotides of DNA.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Novel single-armed nitrogen-heterocyclic salamo-based fluorescent sensors for the detection of Al3+ and CN. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2021;258:119815. [PMID: 33930852 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2021.119815]

Two novel single-armed nitrogen-heterocyclic chemosensors with basically similar structures, PDNS and PZNS, were synthesized to specifically identify Al³⁺ in DMS:H₂O (1:1 v/v) solution by fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and the colour of PDNS and PZNS changed from yellow to colorless when Al³⁺ was added under daylight. This is the first time that nitrogen-heterocyclic is introduced into salamo-based chemical sensor. At excitation wavelengths of 361 and 365 nm, solutions of PDNS and PZNS changed to intense green-blue fluorescence. Furthermore, it was found that PDNS/PZNS and Al³⁺ have excellent binding capacity, the lower limit of detection (LOD = 6.25 × 10^-9/1.26 × 10^-9 mol·dm^-3) is also calculated. In addition, sensor PZNS can detect Al³⁺ in a solution system with up to 95% water content and applicable pH range is 3-12. Compared to other salamo-based sensors, PZNS and PDNS have broader detection conditions and wider utilities. PZNS can also identify CN^- in fluorescence spectrum. PZNS can be used for detection of Al³⁺ in aqueous systems in daily production and life.

A dual-channel 'turn-on' fluorescent chemosensor for high selectivity and sensitivity detection of CN¯ based on a coumarin-Schiff base derivative in an aqueous system

Novel strategies still need to be proposed that can be used to identify and detect toxic environmental pollutants. In this paper, two channels of colorimetry and fluorescence 'turn-on' fluorescent probe 1 (7-hydroxy-8-[(2-hydroxy-phenylimino)- methyl]-4-methylbenzopyran-2-one) for the simple yet highly selective detection of CN¯ have been successfully designed and synthesized. Crystal features of probe 1 were defined using X-ray single crystal diffractometry. Probe 1 showed a strongly colorimetric and fluorescence response to CN¯ that induced obvious naked-eye colour changes in aqueous solution (DMSO/H₂ O, 3:1 v:v). In addition, probe 1 for CN¯ detection displayed low detection limits of 3.91 × 10^-8  M, which were significantly lower than the 1.9 × 10^-6  M maximum level specified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for potable water. The sensing mechanism for probe 1 was attributed to the deprotonation process as shown by ¹ H NMR titration. Moreover, based on the visible colorimetry and fluorescence change for probe 1 to CN¯, measurement was performed for simulated water samples containing CN¯. This study provides a broad prospect for solving other pollution problems and promoting the design of new fluorescent materials.

A Bis(Salamo)-Based Fluorogenic Sensor for Highly Selective and Sequential Recognition of Cu2+ and B4O72- Ions in Semi-Aqueous Medium

A new type of multifunctional bis(salamo)-based fluorogenic sensor H₂BS was designed and synthesized. Under the action of V_DMF: V_H2O = 9: 1, the fluorogenic sensor can identify Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2-, in which N and O atoms can serve as binding sites for Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2-, the stoichiometry of the binding of the fluorogenic sensor H₂BS and Cu²⁺ has been confirmed by titration experiment, working curve, ESI-MS analysis and DFT calculation. The pH response experiment also confirmed that the fluorogenic sensor can recognize Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- in the pH range applicable to the physiological environment. The minimum detection limit of H₂BS for Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- recognition reaches 1.12 × 10^-7 and 5.56 × 10^-8 M, and the fluorogenic sensor H₂BS has been successfully applied to Cu²⁺ detection in actual water samples, and the test strip for detecting Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- was obtained. Meanwhile, the success of the test strip experiment made the fluorogenic sensor H₂BS to recognize Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- widely used in daily life. A new type of salamo-based multifunctional fluorogenic sensor H₂BS was designed and synthesized to identify Cu²⁺ and B₄O₇^2- in aqueous solvent systems. Added Cu²⁺ to H₂BS can cause fluorescence quenching. Further experiments showed that H₂BS and Cu²⁺ form a stable 1:2 complex, while B₄O₇^2- can also cause fluorescence quenching of H₂BS, which is the occurrence of the PET effect. Meanwhile, H₂BS can be used for quantitative detection in the environment and rapid identification in life.

Insight into Rare Structurally Characterized Homotrinuclear CuII Non-Symmetric Salamo-Based Complex

A rare homotrinuclear CuII salamo-based complex [Cu3(L)2(μ-OAc)2(H2O)2]·2CHCl3·5H2O was prepared through the reaction of a non-symmetric salamo-based ligand H2L and Cu(OAc)2·H2O, and validated by elemental analyses, UV-Visible absorption, fluorescence and infrared spectra, molecular simulation and single-crystal X-ray analysis techniques. It is shown that three CuII atoms and two wholly deprotonated ligand (L)2− moieties form together a trinuclear 3:2 (M:L) complex with two coordination water molecules and two bi-dentate briging μ-acetate groups (μ-OAc−). Besides, the Hirshfeld surface analysis of the CuII complex was investigated. Compared with other ligands, the fluorescent strength of the CuII complex was evidently lowered, showing that the CuII ions possess fluorescent quenching effect.

An insight into the molecular structures, theoretical calculation and catalytic activities of novel heterotrinuclear [CuII2CeIII] and heterohexanuclear [CuII4YIII2] bis(salamo)-based complexes

Two heteropolynuclear complexes, [Cu^II₂Ce^III] [Cu₂(L)Ce(NO₃)₃] and [{Cu₂(L)Y(NO₃)₂(μ-AcO)}{Cu₂(L)Y(NO₃)₂(μ-NO₃)(CH₃OH)}]·4CH₃OH, were synthesized. It was found that only the [Cu^II₂Ce^III] complex showed high catecholase and benzoxazinone synthase like catalytic activity.

A new salamo-based colorimetric and fluorescent turn-on sensor with aggregation-induced emission for the rapid and highly sensitive detection of cyanide in real samples

A new, simple, and easy-to-manufacture highly selective and sensitive dual-mode sensor A1 with the aggregation-induced emission properties is used for CN⁻ colorimetric and fluorescence detection.