Novel optical chemosensors for anions and cations based on an amino acid core functionalised with benzimidazoles

Synthesis of metal-binding amino acids

The ability for amino acid residues to bind metals underpins the functions of metalloproteins to conduct a plethora of critical processes in living organisms as well as unnatural applications in the fields of catalysis, sensing and medicinal chemistry. The capability to access metal-binding peptides heavily relies on the ability to generate appropriate building blocks. This review outlines recently developed strategies for the synthesis of metal binding non-proteinogenic amino acids. The chemistries to access, as well as to incorporate these amino acids into peptides is presented herein.

Raposo MM, Costa SPG. Heterocyclic amino acids as fluorescent reporters for transition metals: synthesis and evaluation of novel furyl-benzoxazol-5-yl-l-alanines

Novel benzoxazol-5-yl-l-alanines with heterocyclic pendants were synthesized and investigated as fluorescent reporters for metal cations through spectrofluorimetric titrations.

One-pot, two-step synthesis and photophysical properties of 2-(5-phenylindol-3-yl)benzimidazole derivatives

A one-pot, two-step procedure is developed for synthesis of fluorescent 2-(5-phenylindol-3-yl)benzimidazoles with high yield.

Fluorescent benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines: synthesis, spectroscopic and computational studies of protonation equilibria and metal ion sensitivity

Novel benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines with promising pH and chemosensing properties are experimentally and computationally characterized.

ZnO decorated with organic nanoparticles based sensor for the ratiometric selective determination of mercury ions

Fully characterized organic nanoparticles (R1) decorated on the surface of ZnO (N1), used for selective nanomolar determination of mercury ions.

Cysteine-based fluorescence “turn-on” sensors for Cu2+ and Ag+

Amino acid cysteine was transformed to fluorescent turn-on sensors for Cu⁺² and Ag⁺. The metal ion binding was studied in detail by spectroscopic, microscopic, calorimetric and computational methods.