Theoretical study on excited-state intramolecular proton transfer process of cyanide group substituted 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole

Review on Synthesis of 2-(2-Hydroxyaryl) Benzothiazoles (HBT) for Excited-State Intra-molecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT)-Based Detection of Ions and Biomolecules

In this review, we present a systematic and comprehensive summary of the recent developments in the synthetic strategies of 2-(2-hydroxyarylsubstituted)-benzothiazole (HBT) framework along with incorporation of various substituents on phenolic and benzothiazole rings which affect the emission process. The literature, spanning the years 2015-2024, on excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)-based studies of HBT derivatives comprising the effects of solvent polarity, substituents, and extended conjugation on fluorophores has been searched. ESIPT, intramolecular charge transfer, and aggregation-induced emissions enable these fluorescent probes to specifically interact with analytes, thereby altering their luminescence characteristics to achieve analyte detection. These fluorescent probes exhibit large Stokes shifts, high quantum yields, and excellent color transitions. Finally, the applications of HBTs as ESIPT-based fluorescent probes for the detection of cations, anions, and biomolecules have been summarized. We anticipate that this review will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in this field and encourage researchers to develop novel ESIPT-based fluorophores with new applications.

Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer-Driven Photon-Gating for Photoelectrochemical Sensing of CO-Releasing Molecule-3

Different from prevalent approaches such as immunological recognition, complementary base pairing, or enzymatic regulation in current photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing, this study reported an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)-driven photon-gating PEC sensor. The sensor is developed for the detection of CO-releasing molecule-3 (CORM-3) by modifying an ESIPT-switched organic fluorescent probe molecule (NDAA) onto the surface of a p-type semiconductor (BiOI). The NDAA can be excited and exhibit strong green fluorescence after responding with CORM-3, resulting in an electrode-interface photon competitive absorption effect due to the switch on ESIPT and considerably reducing the photocurrent signal. The experimental results revealed that the as-developed PEC sensor achieved good analytical performance with high selectivity and sensitivity, with a linear range of 0.01-1000 μM and a lower detection limit of 6.5 nM. This work demonstrates the great potential of the organic fluorescent probe molecule family in advancing PEC analysis. It is anticipated that our findings will stimulate the creation of diverse functional probes possessing distinctive characteristics for inventive PEC sensors.