Ferrocene appended 1,8-naphthalimide chromophores: Synthesis, theoretical, the effect of phenyl substitution on aggregation-induced enhanced emission and second-order nonlinear optical studies

A new ferrocene appended linear donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) type 1,8-naphthalimide chromophores [FcPhNap-n-butyl (1) and Fc(Ph)₂Nap-n-butyl (2)] have been synthesized and characterized using various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The chromophores 1 and 2 show the one-electron transfer process, which was examined through cyclic voltammetric (CV) method. The solvatochromic studies show red shift by increasing the solvent polarity from non-polar to polar for both the chromophores 1 and 2, due to the better stabilization of the more polarized excited state than the ground state in the polar solvent. The fluorescence studies show low fluorescence emission, which was enhanced by aggregation in THF/water mixture when the water ratio is increased upto 60%, due to the restricted intramolecular rotation (RIR) process in the aggregated state. Also, the quantum yield increases 3.4 (1) and 6.8 (2) times in the aggregation induced enhanced emission (AIEE) state than THF solution for both the chromophores [THF/AIEE = 0.05/0.17 for 1 and 0.03/0.22 for 2]. The second-order non-linear optical properties of the chromophores 1 and 2 were studied using Kurtz and Perry powder technique, chromophore 2 shows 1.2 times higher SHG efficiency than 1, owing to the presence of additional phenyl group in 2, which further supports the effective charge transfer process from donor to acceptor. Furthermore, optical and non-linear optical properties of chromophores 1 and 2 were analyzed by DFT/TD-DFT calculations using different functionals (B3LYP, long-range corrected CAM-B3LYP and LC-BLYP) with 6-31+G** level of theory. The B3LYP functional shows higher hyperpolarizability values [β₀ = 109.2 × 10^-30 esu (1), 299.7 × 10^-30 esu (2)], due to the overestimation of the dipole moment, polarizability and hyperpolarizabilities between the donor-π-acceptor systems in B3LYP-hybrid functional, which leads to incorrect long-range charge transfer.

A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent sensor based on a 1,8-naphthalimide with a Schiff base function for Hg2+ in aqueous media

A new fluorescent sensor, N-allyl-4-[(2-(3-methoxysalicylaldimino)ethylamino]-1,8-naphthalimide (HL), for Hg2+ has been developed where the Schiff base substituent acts as a recognition group. This sensor shows a large Stokes shift of 3535–4042 cm−1 and a general fluorescence quantum yield of 0.05, 249–0.11, 866 in organic solvents of different polarity as expected. It also exhibits highly selective and a sensitive response to Hg2+ (Ф Hg+HL/Ф HL = 2.28) over other metal ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+, Pb2+, Fe3+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Ag+, Co2+, Cr3+, Mn2+ and Cd2+) in solution (DMF/Tris-HCl buffer, 1:1, v/v, pH = 7.2). The Hg2+-induced fluorescence enhancement at 526 nm is proportional to the concentration of Hg2+ in the range of 0.5–4.0 µm with a detection limit of 0.18 µm. Based on the fluorescence titration and a Job’s plot analysis, the metal-to-ligand ratio of the complex is 2:1 with a binding constant of 1.56 × 1012 m −1.

A Ni(II) coordination polymer with dual electrochemical functions: synthesis, crystal structure, hydrogen evolution reaction and l-ascorbic acid sensing

A two-dimensional Ni(II) coordination polymer (NiCP) of the formula {[NiL(terephthalate)(H2O)2]·2H2O} n (L = bis(1-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)ether), has been obtained from a solvothermal reaction, and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and IR and UV/Vis spectra. The coordinated terephthalate anions and the L ligands connect the Ni(II) ions in two directions, resulting in the construction of a corrugated layered structure. The electrochemical properties of a NiCP-CPE composite electrode supported by this coordination polymer were studied. For the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction, the required overpotential of this electrode (NiCP-CPE) is −521 mV when the current density reaches 10 mA cm−2. Compared with the solid carbon paste electrode (sCPE, −976 mV), the smaller overpotential proves effective electrocatalysis of the coordination polymer of the hydrogen evolution reaction. The doped electrode also exhibits high-efficiency in the electrochemical sensing of l-ascorbic acid in water, showing a detection limit of 0.28 μM in a linear range of 0.4–4000 μM.

Tuned structure and DNA binding properties of metal complexes based on a new 4-acylpyrazolone derivative

The structure and DNA binding performance of three transition metal compounds based on a new pyrazolone ligand were tuned effectively by changing both metal cations and anions.

Density functional theory molecular modelling, DNA interactions, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer and biothermodynamic studies of bioactive water soluble mixed ligand complexes

A novel series of bioactive water soluble mixed ligand complexes (1-5) [M^II(L)(phen)AcO]. nH₂O {where M = Cu (1) n = 2; Co (2), Mn (3), Ni (4), n = 4 and Zn (5) n = 2} were synthesized from 2-(2-Morpholinoethylimino) methyl)phenol Schiff base ligand (LH), 1, 10-phenanthroline and metal(II) acetate salt in a 1:1:1 stoichiometric ratio and characterized by several spectral techniques. The obtained analytical and spectral data suggest the octahedral geometry around the central metal ion. Density functional theory calculations have been further supportive to explore the optimized structure and chemical reactivity of these complexes from their frontier molecular orbitals. Gel electrophoresis result indicates that complex (1) manifested an excellent DNA cleavage property than others. The observed binding constants with free energy changes by electronic absorption technique and DNA binding affinity values by viscosity measurements for all compounds were found in the following order (1) > (2) > (4) > (5) > (3) > (LH). The binding results and thermodynamic parameters are described the intercalation mode. In vitro antioxidant properties disclose that complex (1) divulges high scavenging activity against DPPH^•, ^•OH, O₂^-• NO^•, and Fe³⁺. The antimicrobial reports illustrate that the complexes (1-5) were exhibited well defined inhibitory effect than ligand (LH) against the selected different pathogenic species. The observed percentage growth inhibition against A549, HepG2, MCF-7, and NHDF cell lines suggest that complex (1) has exhibited superior anticancer potency than others. Thus, the complex (1) may contribute as potential anticancer agent due to its unique interaction mode with DNA.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.