Identification of anionic supramolecular complexes of sulfonamide receptors with Cl-, NO3-, Br-, and I- by APCI-MS

Experimental and Theoretical Aspects of Anion Complexes with a Thiophene-Based Cryptand

Selective recognition of anions has received a tremendous attention in recent years because of their significant importance in biology and environment. This article highlights our recent research on a thiophene-based azacryptand that has been shown to effectively bind anions including iodide, bromide, chloride, nitrate and sulfate. Structural studies indicate that the ligand forms inclusion complexes with chloride and iodide. On the other hand, it forms cleft-like complexes with nitrate and sulfate, where three anions are bound between the cyclic arms. The ligand binds each anion with a 1:1 binding mode in water, exhibiting strong selectivity for sulfate; which is further supported by ESI-MS and DFT calculations.

Crystal structure of 5,5'-bis-(di-methyl-amino)-N,N'-(3-methyl-3-aza-pentane-1,5-di-yl)di(naphthalene-1-sulfonamide)

In the title compound, C29H37N5O4S2, two arms substituted with dansyl derivatives are connected to a central tertiary amine, where the dihedral angle between the planes of two dansyl units is 56.39 (4)°. Each arm contains a sulfonamide functional group and both N-H groups in the compound are pointed to the same side. The central part of the mol-ecule is disordered over three sets of sites with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.547 (4):0.328 (4):0.125 (3). No intra-molecular π-π or hydrogen-bonding inter-actions are observed. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via pairs of N-H⋯O inter-actions involving the same acceptor atom, forming inversion dimers. In addition, C-H⋯O inter-actions exist between molecules, providing further stabilization of dimers.

Colorimetric and Optical Discrimination of Halides by a Simple Chemosensor

A thiophene-based tripodal copper(II) complex has been synthesized as a new colorimetric and optical chemosensor for naked-eye discrimination of halides in acetonitrile and an acetonitrile-water mixture. The binding interactions of the new receptor with several anions were analyzed by UV-Vis titrations, electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (ESI-MS) experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results from UV-Vis titrations indicate that the coordinative unsaturated copper(II) complex strongly binds a halide at its vacant copper(II) centre via a metal-ligand bond forming a 1:1 complex, exhibiting binding affinities in the order of fluoride > chloride > bromide > iodide. The interactions of the receptor with halides were further confirmed by ESI-MS, showing a distinct signal corresponding to a 1:1 complex for each halide, suggesting that the noncovalent interactions also exist in the gas phase. In addition, time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations were also carried out to understand the excited-state properties of the chemosensor complexes. A detailed analysis of the TD-DFT calculations shows a consistent red-shift in the first optically-allowed transition, consistent with the observed colorimetric experiments.

Anion receptors containing thiazine-1,1-dioxide heterocycles as hydrogen bond donors

The synthesis, X-ray crystal structures and anion recognition properties of two receptors containing thiazine-1,1-dioxide heterocycles as hydrogen bond donating subunits are reported. The newly synthesized receptors display much different anion selectivities in acetone-d₆ than N,N'-diphenyl-1,3-disulfonamidobenzene that was used as a comparison. The selectivity exhibited by one of the new receptors for chloride anions can be attributed to greater steric demand in the cleft formed, in part, by its terminal phenyl rings; an effect that is absent in the comparison receptor.

Synthesis, Photophysical, and Anion-Sensing Properties of Quinoxalinebis(sulfonamide) Functionalized Receptors and Their Metal Complexes

We report the synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of a series of organic receptors and their corresponding ReI and RuII metal complexes as anion probes featuring bis(sulfonamide) interacting sites incorporating highly chromophoric pi-conjugated quinoxaline moieties. The interactions with various anions were extensively investigated. These probe molecules are capable of recognizing F-, OAc-, CN-, and H2PO4- with different sensitivities. The probe-anion interactions can be easily visualized via naked-eye colorimetric or luminescent responses. Probe 1 has the weakest acidic sulfonamide N-H protons and therefore simply forms hydrogen-bonding complexes with F-, OAc-, CN-, and H2PO4-. Probe 2 undergoes a stepwise process with the addition of F- and OAc-: formation of a hydrogen-bound complex followed by sulfonamide N-H deprotonation. Direct sulfonamide N-H deprotonation occurs upon the addition of CN-, while only a hydrogen-bound complex forms with the H2PO4- ion for probe 2 in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. Similar probe-anion interactions occur in probe 3 with the addition of F-, CN-, or H2PO4-. However, only a genuine hydrogen-bound complex forms in the presence of the OAc- ion in a DMSO solution of probe 3 because of the subtle difference in the pKa values of sulfonamide N-H protons when probes 2 and 3 are compared. Coordination of probe 1 to a ReI center or probe 2 to a RuII center increases the intrinsic acidity of sulfonamide N-H protons and results in an enhanced sensitivity to anions.

Investigation of disulfonamide ligands derived from o-phenylenediamine and their Pb(II) complexes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

An electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) method, in both positive and negative ion modes, was developed for characterization of disulfonamide ligands derived from o-phenylenediamine and their Pb(II) complexes. For the ligands, negative ion mode ESI-MS in methanolic solutions gave simple and easily interpretable mass spectra. However, the spectra of Pb complexes were not readily interpretable under the same conditions. Protonated ligands and their Pb(II) complexes were observed in methanolic solutions by ESI-MS in positive ion mode. The formation of Na(+), K(+), or NH(4) (+) adducts was also observed, complicating the mass spectra and decreasing the signal intensity. In order to optimize the detection of the ligands and the Pb complexes, a method was developed by adding NaOAc in the solutions. The presence of 0.2 mM NaOAc simplified the mass spectra of the ligands and the Pb complexes, and significantly increased sensitivity in both negative and positive ion modes. This modification makes ESI-MS in both modes suitable for characterization of sulfonamide ligands and their Pb complexes, thus providing a potentially powerful tool for evaluating formation of metal complexes and screening combinatorial ligand libraries.