Metal ion-induced FRET modulation in a bifluorophore system

A Review on Metal Ion Sensors Derived from Chalcone Precursor

Disclosure of new molecular probes as chromogenic and fluorogenic cation sensors is scientifically exigent work. Recently chalcone derivatives gained more attention because of their structural variability. A suitable donor and acceptor groups separated by delocalized π-orbitals display excellent chromogenic and fluorogenic properties because of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). These designed molecular frameworks provide the coordination sites to the incoming metal ions results in small changes in the optical properties. In a typical sensing behavior, coordination leads to a large conjugation plane with the probe resulted in hypo/hyperchromic shifts or red/blue shifts. In this review, we tried to converge the reported chalcone-derived sensors and explored the design, synthesis, metal ion sensing mechanism, and practical application of the probes. We expect that this review gives a basic outline for researchers to explore the field of chalcone-based sensors further.

Charge transfer based "turn-on" chemosensor for Zn²⁺ ion recognition using new triaryl pyrazoline derivative

The fluoroionophore PY serves as a selective and fluorimetric chemosensor for Zn(2+) based on charge transfer (CT). A mechanism for the binding mode was proposed based on fluorescence changes, NMR experiments and theoretical calculations. The 1:1 stoichiometry between Zn(2+) and the sensor was deduced from Job's plot. The addition of EDTA quenches the fluorescence of PY.Zn(2+) complex offers PY as a reversible chemosensor.

Highly promising discrimination of various catecholamines using ratiometric fluorescence probes with intermolecular self-association of two sensing elements

Two sensing elements based on fluorescence probes have been employed as a promising discriminating sensor of two catecholamines, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE), acting as a guest linker between two self-recognition sensing components.

Selective fluorescent probes based on CN isomerization and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) for zinc ions in aqueous solution

As the second most abundant transition-metal ion in the human body, Zn2+ plays crucial roles in many important biological processes; while in the environment, an excessive concentration of Zn2+ may reduce the soil microbial activity resulting in phytotoxic effects. Therefore, developing effective and sensitive detection method for Zn2+ has become crucially important and necessary both in life and environment science. Two new fluorescence probes, 2-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methyleneamino)-3-(1H-imidazol-5-yl) propanoic acid (2) and 2-hydroxy-2-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl) methyleneamino) acetic acid (3), were easily prepared by a one step reaction between 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with histidine and serine, respectively, in ethanol. The optical properties of them were investigated by fluorescence spectra, which displayed specific and sensitive recognition to Zn2+ and especially avoided the interference of Cd2+ when they were tested against a range of physiological and environmentally relevant metal ions in aqueous solution. The responsive mechanism of the two probes to Zn2+ were involved both the CN isomerization and ICT, which were clarified by NBO charge analysis and the HOMO-LUMO energy gap calculation by using B3LYP/6-31G density functional theory.

A highly selective fluorescent probe for Hg(2+) based on a rhodamine-coumarin conjugate

A fluorescent probe 1 for Hg(2+) based on a rhodamine-coumarin conjugate was designed and synthesized. Probe 1 exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity for sensing Hg(2+), and about a 24-fold increase in fluorescence emission intensity is observed upon binding excess Hg(2+) in 50% water/ethanol buffered at pH 7.24. The fluorescence response to Hg(2+) is attributed to the 1:1 complex formation between probe 1 and Hg(2+), which has been utilized as the basis for the selective detection of Hg(2+). Besides, probe 1 was also found to show a reversible dual chromo- and fluorogenic response toward Hg(2+) likely due to the chelation-induced ring opening of rhodamine spirolactam. The analytical performance characteristics of the proposed Hg(2+)-sensitive probe were investigated. The linear response range covers a concentration range of Hg(2+) from 8.0x10(-8) to 1.0x10(-5)molL(-1) and the detection limit is 4.0x10(-8)molL(-1). The determination of Hg(2+) in both tap and river water samples displays satisfactory results.