An Acylhydrazone-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Sequential Recognition of Al3+ and H2PO4−

A novel acylhydrazone-based fluorescent sensor NATB was designed and synthesized for consecutive sensing of Al3+ and H2PO4−. NATB displayed fluorometric sensing to Al3+ and could sequentially detect H2PO4− by fluorescence quenching. The limits of detection for Al3+ and H2PO4− were determined to be 0.83 and 1.7 μM, respectively. The binding ratios of NATB to Al3+ and NATB-Al3+ to H2PO4− were found to be 1:1. The sequential recognition of Al3+ and H2PO4− by NATB could be repeated consecutively. In addition, the practicality of NATB was confirmed with the application of test strips. The sensing mechanisms of Al3+ and H2PO4− by NATB were investigated through fluorescence and UV–Visible spectroscopy, Job plot, ESI-MS, 1H NMR titration, and DFT calculations.

An Indole-Based Fluorescent Chemosensor for Detecting Zn2+ in Aqueous Media and Zebrafish

An indole-based fluorescent chemosensor IH-Sal was synthesized to detect Zn2+. IH-Sal displayed a marked fluorescence increment with Zn2+. The detection limit (0.41 μM) of IH-Sal for Zn2+ was greatly below that suggested by the World Health Organization. IH-Sal can quantify Zn2+ in real water samples. More significantly, IH-Sal could determine and depict the presence of Zn2+ in zebrafish. The detecting mechanism of IH-Sal toward Zn2+ was illustrated by fluorescence and UV–visible spectroscopy, DFT calculations, 1H NMR titration and ESI mass.

Design and synthesis of new tripod-chromogenic sensor based on s-triazine and thiazolidine-2,4-dione ring (TCST) for naked-eye detection of Li+

A novel tripod-chromogenic sensor contains central nucleus s-triazine and thiazolidine-2,4-dione ring (TCST) was designed, synthesized and applied as colorimetric probes in aqueous solutions of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The probe showed a highly sensitive and selective colorimetric sensor for naked-eye detection of Li+, with a different color change from colorless to yellow. The probe’s detection limit (LOD) toward Li+ was found to be 1.2 μM. The result of the Job’s plot showed 1:1 stoichiometry for the interaction between tripod-chemosensor and Li+ that this result was confirmed by 1H NMR titration experiments. The probe can also be used for biological activities depending on the results of microbial tests.

Enantioselective Michael Addition to Vinyl Phosphonates via Hydrogen Bond-Enhanced Halogen Bond Catalysis

An asymmetric Michael addition of malononitrile to vinyl phosphonates was accomplished by hydrogen bond-enhanced bifunctional halogen bond (XB) catalysis. 1H NMR titration experiments were used to demonstrate that halogen bonding,...

Disassembly of Dimeric Cyanine Dye Supramolecular Assembly by Tetramolecular G-quadruplex Dependence on Linker Length and Layers of G-quartet

Cyanine dyes have been widely applied in various biological systems owing to their specific photochemical properties. Assembly and disassembly process of cyanine dyes were constructed and regulated by special biomolecules. In this paper, dimeric cyanine dyes with different repeat units (oligo-oxyethylene) in linker (TC-Pn) (n = 3–6) were found to form H-aggregates or mixture aggregates in PBS. These aggregates could be disassembled into dimer and/or monomer by (TGnT) tetramolecular G-quadruplexes (n = 3–6, 8), which were affected by the linker length of dimeric cyanine dyes and layers of G-quartets. The 1H-NMR titration results suggest that the binding mode of dimeric cyanine dye with TGnT might be on both ends—stacking like a clip. This binding mode could clearly explain that matching structures between dimeric cyanine dyes and TGnT quadruplexes could regulate the disassembly properties of aggregates. These results could provide clues for the development of highly specific G-quadruplex probes.

Selective Colorimetric Sensors for Cyanide and Acetate Ion in Partially Aqueous Medium

4-(thiazol-2-yldiazenyl)phenol (L1) and 2-((4-hydroxyphenyl) diazenyl)-5-nitrophenol (L2) based on azo phenol were synthesised and used as selective colorimetric sensor for CN- and AcO− ion in DMSO/H2O-HEPES (v/v; 1:1, pH–7.3 ± 0.2) and showed good sensitivity with large red shifts and nanomolar detection limit for CN- and AcO- ion. The stoichiometry of L1 with CN−/AcO− ion was found to be 1:1 and L2 with CN−/AcO− ion was found to be 1:2. Binding constant for L1+ CN−, L1 + AcO−, L2 + CN− and L2 + AcO− were calculated by B-H plot as 1.6 × 103, 8.0 × 102, 8.4 × 103 and 1.7 × 102 respectively. L2 showed high selectivity towards CN− ion with low detection limit of 81 nM and large binding constant. In addition, 1H NMR titration and DFT studies also supported the deprotonation mechanism of receptors in the presence of selective anions.

A New Thiourea Compound as Potential Ionophore for Metal Ion Sensor

A new thiourea compound, 2,2-oxybis(ethyl)-4-(1-naphthyl)-3-thiourea 3 has been synthesized and characterized by using FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and MS spectroscopy. The binding properties of with various cations were also carried out using ‘naked eye’, UV-vis and 1H-NMR titration experiments. This compound exhibited effective binding for Hg2+ in the presence of other cations, such as Ag+, Ni2+, Sn2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, and Pb2+. Continuous variation titration experiments were conducted in order to determine the binding behavior for Hg2+. Stoichiometry of the host and guest binding interactions were also determined using continuous variation titration experiments and plotting molar-ratio curves. Pearson Product moment method was employed to calculate the correlation coefficient, and non-linear regression equation was used to calculate dissociation constant Kd. Molar-ratio and binding constant data substantiated the presence of binding sites for the compound 3.

A Highly Selective and Sensitive Chemosensor for Colorimetric and Fluorescent Detection of Al3+ and Living Cell Imaging

A colorimetric and fluorescent dual chemosensor for detecting Al3+, (E)-N′-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)nicotinohydrazide (HNN), was developed by combining 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with nicotinohydrazide. Addition of Al3+ to EtOH–H2O solution of HNN gives rise to a visible colour change from colourless to light blue and a significantly enhanced fluorescence. Other metal ions including Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, Ag+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+ have no or little effect on the specific response of HNN to Al3+. The binding mode of HNN–Al3+ complex was further clarified by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and 1H NMR titration experiments.