Fluorescence detection of hydrazine in an aqueous environment by a corrole derivative.

Broadly, the industrial applications of hydrazine cause environmental pollution and damage to living organisms because of the high toxicity of hydrazine. Therefore, monitoring hydrazine in the environmental system is of great significance to human health. Here, a new fluorescent probe PC-N2 H4 based on corrole dye was developed for the detection of hydrazine that had excellent specificity, low limit of detection (LOD: 88 nM), and a wide pH range (6-12). Upon addition of hydrazine into the probe solution, the strong red fluorescence was 'turned on' centred at 653 nm with a 127-fold fluorescence intensity enhancement. The detection mechanism was proved using ESI-MS, 1 H NMR, and density functional theoretical calculations. Importantly, the probe was utilized to fabricate a ready-to-use test strip to realize the visual inspection of hydrazine. Furthermore, PC-N2 H4 was successfully applied for practical detection of hydrazine in water samples with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 96.2% to 105.0%, and indicating that the designed PC-N2 H4 is highly promising for hydrazine detection in an aqueous environment. Considering the diverse toxicological functions of hydrazine, PC-N2 H4 was also successfully used to image exogenous hydrazine in HeLa cells and zebrafish.

Synthesis and applications of a corrole-based dual-responsive fluorescent probe for separate detection of hydrazine and hydrogen sulfide.

Here, a corrole-based dual-responsive fluorescent probe DPC-DNBS was rationally designed and synthesized for the separate detection of hydrazine (N2H4) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) with high selectivity and sensitivity. The probe DPC-DNBS is intrinsically none fluorescent due to PET effect, however, addition of increasing amount of N2H4 or H2S to DPC-DNBS turned on an excellent NIR fluorescence centered at 652 nm and thereby provided a colorimetric signaling behavior. The sensing mechanism was verified by HRMS, 1H NMR and the DFT calculations. Common metal ions and anions do not interfere with the interactions of DPC-DNBS with N2H4 or H2S. Furthermore, the presence of N2H4 does not affect the detection of H2S; however, the presence of H2S interferes with the detection of N2H4. Hence, quantitative detection of N2H4 must occur in an H2S-free environment. The probe DPC-DNBS displayed some fascinating merits in separate detection of these two analytes, including large Stokes shift (233 nm), fast response (15 min for N2H4, 30 s for H2S), low detection limit (90 nM for N2H4, 38 nM for H2S), wide pH range (6-12) and outstanding biological compatibility. Significantly, DPC-DNBS was utilized to detect hydrazine in real water, soil and food samples. And its favorable performances for separate detection N2H4 and H2S were successfully demonstrated in HeLa cells and zebrafish, indicating its value of practical application in biology.

Nanoarchitectonic Composites of Mixed and Covalently Linked Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Tetra-[α-(p-amino)benzyloxyl] Phthalocyanine Zinc(II).

The nanoarchitectonic composites mixed-ZnPc-fMWCNT and linked-ZnPc-fMWCNT were prepared through tetra-[α-(p-amino)benzyloxyl]phthalocyanine Zinc(II) (ZnPc) mixed and covalently linked to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), respectively. Various spectroscopic methods were used to identify the nanocomposites formed between ZnPc and MWCNTs whether by π-π interaction or by covalent linking. Their photocatalytic properties were fully investigated by carrying out the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The nanocomposites displayed excellent photocatalytic performance, with the photodegradation efficiency as high as 94% for linked-ZnPc-fMWCNT and 83% for mixed-ZnPc-fMWCNT within 3 h irradiation. The repetition test revealed that both nanocomposites have excellent stability and recyclability, and then they are promising candidates as eco-friendly photocatalysts for degradation of organic dyes in aqueous environments.

Dysprosium Heteroleptic Corrole-Phthalocyanine Triple-Decker Complexes: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Electrochemical and Magnetic Properties.

Two triple-decker dinuclear sandwich dysprosium complexes, which are represented as Dy2[Pc(OC5H11)8]2[Cor(FPh)3] (1) and Dy2[Pc(OC5H11)8]2[Cor(ClPh)3] (2), were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods in nonaqueous media. Their electronic structures were also investigated on the basis of TD-DFT calculations. The sandwich triple-decker nature with the molecular conformation of [Pc(OC5H11)8]Dy[Cor(FPh)3]Dy[Pc(OC5H11)8] for compound 1 was unambiguously revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and showed each dyprosium ion to be octacoordinated by the isoindole and pyrrole nitrogen atoms of an outer phthalocyanine ring and the central corrole ring, respectively. In addition, the magnetic properties of both compounds have also been characterized for exploring the functionalities of these types of triple-decker complexes.

Electrochemistry of nitrated N-confused free-base tetraaryl-porphyrins in nonaqueous media.

Four nitrated N-confused free-base tetraarylporphyrins were synthesized and characterized by electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry in nonaqueous media. The examined compounds are represented as NO2 (Ar)4 NcpH2 , where NO2 (Ar)4 Ncp is the dianion of a tetraaryl N-confused porphyrin with an inner carbon bound NO2 group and Ar is a p-CH3 OPh, p-CH3 Ph, Ph or p-ClPh substituent on each meso-position of the macrocycle. UV/Vis spectra and NMR spectroscopy data indicate that the same form of the porphyrin exists in CH2 Cl2 and DMF which is unlike the case of non-NO2 N-confused porphyrins. The Soret band of NO2 (Ar)4 NcpH2 exhibits a 30-36 nm red-shift in CH2 Cl2 and DMF as compared to the spectrum of the non-NO2 N-confused porphyrins. The first two reductions and first oxidation of NO2 (Ar)4 NcpH2 are reversible in CH2 Cl2 containing 0.1 M TBAP. The measured HOMO-LUMO gap averages 1.65 V in CH2 Cl2 and 1.53 V in DMF, with both values being similar to those of the non-NO2 substituted compounds. The nitro group on the inverted pyrrole is itself not reduced within the negative potential limit of CH2 Cl2 or DMF, but its presence significantly affects both the UV/Vis spectra and redox potentials.

Europium triple-decker complexes containing phthalocyanine and nitrophenyl-corrole macrocycles.

A series of europium triple-decker complexes containing phthalocyanine and nitrophenyl-corrole macrocycles were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods in nonaqueous media. The examined compounds are represented as Eu2[Pc(OC4H9)8]2[Cor(Ph)n(NO2Ph)3-n], where n varies from 0 to 3, Pc(OC4H9)8 represents the phthalocyanine macrocycle, and Cor indicates the corrole macrocycle having phenyl (Ph) or nitrophenyl (NO2Ph) meso substituents. Three different methods were used for syntheses of the target complexes, two of which are reported here for the first time. Each examined compound undergoes five reversible one-electron oxidations and 3-5 one-electron reductions depending upon the number of NO2Ph substituents. The nitrophenyl groups on the meso positions of the corrole are highly electron-withdrawing, and this leads to a substantial positive shift in potential for the five oxidations and first reduction in CH2Cl2, PhCN, or pyridine as compared to the parent triple-decker compound with a triphenylcorrole macrocycle. The measured E1/2 values are linearly related to the number of NO2Ph groups on the corrole, and the relative magnitude of the shift in potential for each redox reaction was used in conjunction with the results from thin-layer spectro-electrochemistry to assign the initial site of oxidation or reduction on the molecule. The nitrophenyl substituents are also redox-active, and each is reduced to [C6H4NO2](-) in a separate one-electron transfer step at potentials between -1.12 and -1.42 V versus saturated calomel electrode.

Synthesis and Characterization of Rare Earth Corrole-Phthalocyanine Heteroleptic Triple-Decker Complexes.

We recently reported the first example of a europium triple-decker tetrapyrrole with mixed corrole and phthalocyanine macrocycles and have now extended the synthetic method to prepare a series of rare earth corrole-phthalocyanine heteroleptic triple-decker complexes, which are characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The examined complexes are represented as M2[Pc(OC4H9)8]2[Cor(ClPh)3], where Pc = phthalocyanine, Cor = corrole, and M is Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), or Tb(III). The Y(III) derivative with OC4H9 Pc substituents was obtained in too low a yield to characterize, but for the purpose of comparison, Y2[Pc(OC5H11)8]2[Cor(ClPh)3] was synthesized and characterized in a similar manner. The molecular structure of Eu2[Pc(OC4H9)8]2[Cor(ClPh)3] was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and showed the corrole to be the central macrocycle of the triple-decker unit with a phthalocyanine on each end. Each triple-decker complex undergoes up to eight reversible or quasireversible one-electron oxidations and reductions with E1/2 values being linearly related to the ionic radius of the central ions. The energy (E) of the main Q-band is also linearly related to the radius of the metal. Comparisons are made between the physicochemical properties of the newly synthesized mixed corrole-phthalocyanine complexes and previously characterized double- and triple-decker derivatives with phthalocyanine and/or porphyrin macrocycles.

A new class of rare earth tetrapyrrole sandwich complexes containing corrole and phthalocyanine macrocycles: synthesis, physicochemical characterization and X-ray analysis.

The first europium triple-decker tetrapyrrole with mixed corrole and phthalocyanine macrocycles was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The molecular structure was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and showed the corrole to be in the middle of the sandwich with phthalocyanine macrocycles at each extreme.

Effect of solvent and protonation/deprotonation on electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and electron-transfer mechanisms of N-confused tetraarylporphyrins in nonaqueous media.

A series of N-confused free-base meso-substituted tetraarylporphyrins was investigated by electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry in nonaqueous media containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) and added acid or base. The investigated compounds are represented as (XPh)4 NcpH2 , in which "Ncp" is the N-confused porphyrin macrocycle and X is a OCH3 , CH3 , H, or Cl substituent on the para position of each meso-phenyl ring of the macrocycle. Two distinct types of UV/Vis spectra are initially observed depending upon solvent, one corresponding to an inner-2H form and the other to an inner-3H form of the porphyrin. Both forms have an inverted pyrrole with a carbon inside the cavity and a nitrogen on the periphery of the π-system. Each porphyrin undergoes multiple irreversible reductions and oxidations. The first one-electron addition and first one-electron abstraction are located on the porphyrin π-ring system to give π-anion and π-cation radicals with a potential separation of 1.52 to 1.65 V between the two processes, but both electrogenerated products are unstable and undergo a rapid chemical reaction to give new electroactive species, which were characterized in the present study. The effect of the solvent and protonation/deprotonation reactions on the UV/Vis spectra, redox potentials and reduction/oxidation mechanisms is discussed with comparisons made to data and mechanisms for the structurally related free-base corroles and porphyrins.

Synthesis and electrochemistry of ß-pyrrole nitro-substituted cobalt(II) porphyrins. The effect of the NO2 group on redox potentials, the electron transfer mechanism and catalytic reduction of molecular oxygen in acidic media.

Four cobalt(II) porphyrins, two of which contain a ß-pyrrole nitro substituent, were synthesized and characterized by electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry. The investigated compounds are represented as (TRPP)Co and (NO2TRPP)Co, where TRPP is the dianion of a substituted tetraphenylporphyrin and R is a CH3 or OCH3 substituent on the four phenyl rings of the macrocycle. Two reductions and three oxidations are observed for each compound in CH2Cl2 containing 0.10 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate. The first reduction of the compounds without a nitro substituent is metal-centered and leads to formation of a Co(I) porphyrin which then reacts with the CH2Cl2 solvent to generate a carbon σ-bonded Co(III)-R complex. A further reduction then occurs at more negative potentials to generate an unstable Co(II) σ-bonded compound. In contrast to these reactions, the first reduction of the nitro-substituted porphyrins is macrocycle-centered under the same solution conditions and gives a Co(II) porphyrin π-anion radical product. This reversible electron transfer is then followed at more negative potentials by a second reversible one-electron addition to give a Co(II) dianion. Three reversible one-electron oxidations are also seen for each compound. The first is metal-centered and the next two involve the conjugated π-system of the macrocycle. Each neutral Co(II) porphyrin was also examined as to its catalytic activity for electroreduction of molecular oxygen when coated on an edge-plane pyrolytic graphite electrode in 1.0 M HClO4. The ß-pyrrole nitro-substituted derivatives were shown to be better catalysts than the non-nitro substituted compounds under the utilized experimental conditions.

Synthesis, characterization, protonation reactions, and electrochemistry of substituted open-chain pentapyrroles and sapphyrins in nonaqueous media.

Open-chain pentapyrroles were isolated as side-products from the synthesis of triaryl-corroles and then converted to the corresponding sapphyrins by catalytic oxidation in acidic media. The investigated compounds were characterized by UV-vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, electrochemistry, and spectroelectrochemistry and are represented as (Ar)4PPyH3 and (Ar)4SH3, where Ar is a F(-) or Cl(-) substituted phenyl group, PPy is a trianion of the open-chain pentapyrrole, and S is a trianion of the sapphyrin. Cyclic voltammetry and thin-layer UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry measurements were carried out in PhCN and CH2Cl2 containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate. The open-chain pentapyrroles undergo two reversible one-electron reductions and two reversible one-electron oxidations to generate [(Ar)PPyH3](-), [(Ar)PPyH3](2-), [(Ar)PPyH3](+), and [(Ar)PPyH3](2+) which were spectroscopically characterized. The corresponding sapphyrins exhibit two or three reversible one-electron oxidations in PhCN, but the reductions of these compounds are irreversible because of coupled chemical reactions following electron transfer. Comparisons are made between redox potentials and spectral properties of the open-chain pentapyrroles, sapphyrins, and structurally related corroles. Protonation of the open-chain pentapyrroles and sapphyrins was also carried out in CH2Cl2, and equilibrium constants were calculated by monitoring the spectral changes during titrations with trifluoroacetic acid. The pentapyrroles undergo a simultaneous two-proton addition to generate [(Ar)4PPyH5](2+) while the sapphyrins undergo two stepwise single proton additions to give [(Ar)4SH4](+) and [(Ar)4SH5](2+), respectively.

Molecular oxygen reduction electrocatalyzed by meso-substituted cobalt corroles coated on edge-plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes in acidic media.

Five meso-substituted cobalt(III) corroles were examined as to their catalytic activity for the electoreduction of O(2) when coated on an edge-plane pyrolytic graphite electrode in 1.0 M HClO(4). The investigated compounds are represented as (TpRPCor)Co(PPh(3)), where TpRPCor is the trianion of a para-substituted triphenylcorrole and R = OMe, Me, H, F, or Cl. Three electrochemical techniques, cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry with a rotating disk electrode (RDE), and voltammetry at a rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE), were utilized to evaluate the catalytic activity of the corroles in the reduction of O(2). Cobalt corroles containing electron-withdrawing substituents were shown to be better catalysts than those having electron-donating groups on the three meso-phenyl rings of the triarylcorroles.

2-Ethyl 4-methyl 5-ethyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxyl-ate.

The title pyrrole derivative compound, C(12)H(17)NO(4), was synthesized from methyl 3-oxopenta-noate by a Knorr-type reaction and contains a pyrrole ring to which two diagonal alk-oxy-carbonyl groups and two diagonal alkyl substituents are attached. The methyl-carbonyl and ethyl-carbonyl substituents are approximately co-planar with the pyrrole ring, making dihedral angles of 5.64 (2) and 3.44 (1)°, respectively. In the crystal, adjacent mol-ecules are assembled by pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into dimers in a head-to-head mode.

Dimethyl 3,5-diethyl-1H-pyrrole-2,4-dicarboxyl-ate.

The title pyrrole derivative, C(12)H(17)NO(4), consists of a pyrrole ring with two diagonally attached meth-oxy-carbonyl groups and two diagonally attached ethyl groups. The two carbonyl groups are approximately in the same plane as the pyrrole ring, making dihedral angles of 3.50 (19) and 6.70 (19)°. In the crystal, adjacent mol-ecules are assembled into dimers in a head-to-head mode by pairs of inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

[Seasonal variations of soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon in degraded desert steppes of Inner Mongolia].

Sampling sites were installed in Damao Banner, Siziwang Banner, and Sunite Right Banner of Inner Mongolia, which represented lightly, moderately, and heavily degraded desert steppes, respectively, and surface (0-20 cm) soil samples were collected to analyze the quantitative characteristics and seasonal dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) in these steppes. The SOC and MBC contents decreased with the increasing degradation degree of desert steppe. The total amount of soil culturable microbes in lightly and moderately degraded desert steppes was higher than that in heavily degraded desert steppe, except in summer 2006, and the MBC content and the quantity of soil culturable microbes were higher in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between SOC and MBC (P < 0.01), suggesting that both SOC and MBC could be used as the sensitive indicators to evaluate the degradation degree of desert steppe.

Photochromic nanostructures based on diarylethenes with perylene diimide.

A bisthienylethene-functionalized perylene diimide (BTE-PDI) photochromic dyad was synthesized for self-assembly into 1-D nanotubes by a reprecipitation method. SEM and TEM observations showed that the nanotubes were formed from their 0-D precursors of hollow nanospheres. HR-TEM images revealed that both the nanospheres and the nanotubes have highly ordered lamellar structure, indicating the hierarchical process during assembly. The IR and XRD results revealed that DAE-PDI molecules were connected through intermolecular hydrogen bonds to form building blocks that self-assembled into nanostructures. Electronic absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic results indicated the H-aggregate nature of the self-assembled nanostructures. Competition and cooperation between the dipole-dipole interaction, intermolecular pi-pi stacking, and hydrophilic/hydrophobic interaction are suggested to result in nanostructures. Reconstruction was found to happen during the morphology transition progress from the 0-D nanospheres to the 1-D nanotubes, which was driven by donor-acceptor dipole-dipole interactions. Green emission at 520 nm originating from the DAE subunit was observed for the aggregates of vesicles and nanotubes, which could be regulated by photoirradiation with 365 nm light, suggesting the nanoaggregates to be photochromic switches.

Morphology controlled self-assembled nanostructures of sandwich mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) europium triple-deckers. Effect of hydrogen bonding on tuning the intermolecular interaction.

A series of five novel sandwich-type mixed (phthalocyaninato)(porphyrinato) europium triple-decker complexes with different numbers of hydroxyl groups at the meso-substituted phenyl groups of porphyrin ligand 1-5 have been designed, synthesized, and characterized. Their self-assembly properties, in particular the effects of the number and positions of hydroxyl groups on the morphology of self-assembled nanostructures of these triple-decker complexes, have been comparatively and systematically studied. Competition and cooperation between the intermolecular pi-pi interaction and hydrogen bonding in the direction perpendicular to the pi-pi interaction direction for different compounds were revealed to result in nanostructures with a different morphology from nanoleafs for 1, nanoribbons for 2, nanosheets for 3, and curved nanosheets for 4 and to spherical shapes for 5. The IR and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that, in the nanostructures of triple-decker 2 as well as 3-5, a dimeric supramolecular structure was formed through an intermolecular hydrogen bond between two triple-decker molecules, which as the building block self-assembles into the target nanostructures. Electronic absorption spectroscopic results on the self-assembled nanostructures reveal the H-aggregate nature in the nanoleafs and nanoribbons formed from triple-deckers 1 and 2 due to the dominant pi-pi intermolecular interaction between triple-decker molecules, but the J-aggregate nature in the curved nanosheets and spherical shapes of 4 and 5 depending on the dominant hydrogen bonding interaction in cooperation with pi-pi interaction among the triple-decker molecules. Electronic absorption and XRD investigation clearly reveal the decrease in the pi-pi interaction and increase in the hydrogen bonding interaction among triple-decker molecules in the nanostructures along with the increase of hydroxyl number in the order of 1-5. The present result appears to represent the first effort toward realization of controlling and tuning the morphology of self-assembled nanostructures of sandwich tetrapyrrole rare earth complexes through molecular design and synthesis.