A new biphenol-dipicolylamine based ligand and its dinuclear Zn2+ complex as fluorescent sensors for ibuprofen and ketoprofen in aqueous solution

In this work, the study of the new ligand 3,3'-bis[N,N-bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)aminomethyl]-2,2'-dihydroxybiphenyl (L) is reported, where a central 2,2'-biphenol (BPH) fluorophore was functionalized at 3,3'-positions with two dipicolylamine (DPA) side arms as receptor units. Following the synthesis and full chemical-physical characterization, the acid-base and Zn2+-coordination abilities of L were investigated through a combination of potentiometric, UV-Vis, fluorescence, NMR, XRD and DFT measurements. The optical properties of the ligand turned out to be strongly dependent on the pH, being straightforwardly associated with the protonation state of the BPH moiety, whereas its peculiar design allowed to form stable mono and dinuclear Zn2+ complexes. In the latter species, the presence of two Zn2+ ions coordinatively unsaturated and placed at close distance to each other, prompted us to test their usefulness as metallo-receptors for two environmental pollutants of great relevance, ibuprofen and ketoprofen. Potentiometric and fluorescence investigations evidenced that these important non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effectively coordinated by the metallo-receptors and, of relevance, both the stability and the fluorescence properties of the resulting ternary adducts are markedly affected by the different chemical architectures of the two substrates. This study aims at highlighting the promising perspectives arising from the use of polyamino phenolic ligands as chemosensors for H+/Zn2+ and other additional anionic targets in their metal-complexed forms.

A Tetranuclear Copper(II)/Calcium(II) Complex as Dual Chemosensor for Colorimetric and Fluorescent Detection of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

The tetranuclear Cu²⁺ /Ca²⁺ /Ca2⁺ /Cu²⁺ complex based on Malten ligand has been investigated as a platform for anion binding. Simple organic carboxylates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been tested, revealing the ability of the platform to bind them. The receiving platform hosts at least two guests in solution although a third anion can be bound, as suggested by X-ray diffraction analysis. The addition of the anions is accompanied by a color change of the solution, making the system a colorimetric sensor for carboxylates (LOD values comprised between 3.6 and 20.7 ppm). A fluorescent system consisting of the 2-(3-oxido-6-oxoxanthen-9-yl)benzoate (fluorescein anion) linked to the tetranuclear platform has been also prepared and used in a chemosensing ensemble approach to signal the presence of the selected anions (Log K between 2.6 and 5.6 for the addition of two guests). The latter also works in a paper strip test, offering the chemosensor a possible practical application.