Ion-responsive Intramolecular Charge-transfer Absorption Using a Pyridinium Benzocrown Ether Conjugate

A pyridinium benzocrown ether conjugated compound, 1, and its analogue with a non-crown ether unit, 2, have been prepared. Both compounds showed similar absorption spectra with two absorption bands at around 260 and 330 nm in acetonitrile. The bands at the longer wavelength side are associated with intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) absorption, in which the dialkoxyphenyl unit in benzocrown ether and the pyridinium unit act as the donor and acceptor, respectively. The addition of a guest, such as Li(+) or Mg(2+), caused a blue shift in the ICT absorption band for 1, but not for 2. This is explained by the formation of a 1:1 host-guest inclusion complex of 1 with the guest. The guest-induced absorption variation of 1 can be used for alkali and alkaline metal ion sensing. Compound 1 could detect divalent cations, especially for Mg(2+), rather than univalent ones (Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+)), although Li(+) was detected with high sensitivity among the alkali metal ions. Compound 3, which has a pyridyl unit at the para position on the pyridinium of 1, showed a similar trend to that of 1 with lower sensitivity than that of 1. The fact that the Mg(2+)/Li(+) sensitivity ratio of 1 and 3 was estimated to be 8.63 and 5.08, respectively, suggests a higher Mg(2+)-preference of 1 rather than 3, while the Ca(2+)/Na(+) ones were 4.98 and 4.85, respectively, when compared ions with similar ionic radii. The sensitivity values of 1 were roughly proportional to their binding constants, as shown by the binding constants with Li(+), Na(+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+) with values of 2100, 910, 11500, and 2000 M(-1) for 1, respectively. The binding constants of 3 were estimated to be 1710, 650, 3000, and 1400 M(-1) for Li(+), Na(+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+), respectively, but could not be obtained for alkaline metal ions. The limit concentration for the detection of 1 for Mg(2+) was estimated to be 0.0156 mM, which was the smallest value in this system.

Ion sensing by charge transfer absorption variations of benzocrown-bipyridinium conjugates with an alkyl chain

Two benzocrown ether-bipyridinium conjugates, 1 and 2, each having a different length of alkyl chains with butyl and dodecyl groups, respectively, have been synthesized for the purpose of developing a new guest-responsive color-change chemosensor. Both 1 and 2 showed yellow colors with broad absorption bands around 400 nm in acetonitrile. These are associated with the intramolecular charge transfer (CT) absorption, in which the benzocrown ether and bipyridinium units act as the donor and acceptor, respectively. Upon addition of the guest; such as Na(+), they faded in color due to the blue shift in their intramolecular charge transfer absorption bands. These are associated with the formation of 1:1 host-guest inclusion complex. Analogues, 3 and 4, both being similar in structure to 1 and 2 with non-crown ether unit, also showed intramolecular CT absorptions around 400 nm, but did not change their absorption spectra upon addition of the guest because of the lack of guest-binding abilities. The guest-induced color change of 1 and 2 can be used for alkali and alkaline metal ion sensing. Both 1 and 2 could detect divalent cations such as Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) rather than univalent ones, Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+). Although a marked difference between 1 and 2 was not observed in their guest sensing abilities, the remarkable recognition of 1 and 2 for Mg(2+) and Ca(2+) was found compared with that of 5, which has benzyl unit instead of alkyl chains of 1 and 2. The sensitivity values of 1 and 2 were roughly proportional to their binding constants, as shown by the binding constants with Li(+), Na(+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+) with the values of 910, 260, 820, and 2300 M(-1) for 1 and 930, 290, 1270, and 2790 M(-1) for 2, while the binding constants of 5 were estimated to be 930, 440, 210, and 1200 M(-1) for Li(+), Na(+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+), respectively. The limit concentration of detection of 2 for Ca(2+) was estimated to be 0.016 mM, which was the smallest value in this system.