Solvent-Dependent Nanostructures Based on Active π-Aggregation Induced Emission Enhancement of New Carbazole Derivatives of Triphenylacrylonitrile.

In the present study, the carbazole and 2,3,3-triphenylacrylonitrile (TPAN) nanostructures (2-CTPAN and 2,2'-CTPAN) have been designed and synthesized by Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction. CTPAN exhibit aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) behavior in water with high fluorescence quantum yield. Both the compounds show tunable self-assembly in water as well as in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) by extended π-π stacking interactions. CTPAN can be self-assembled into spherical particles in water and the structures of these self-assemblies have been investigated using X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, 2-CTPAN and 2,2'-CTPAN form organogels with a critical gelation concentration (CGC) of 11 and 15 mg mL-1 , respectively, in DMF and exhibit acicular and rod shaped morphology, respectively. The single-crystal structure of 2-CTPAN shows that the intermolecular C-H⋅⋅⋅π interactions lock the molecular conformation into a staircase-shaped supramolecular assembly. These AIEE active compounds reveal high water dispersibility, strong yellow fluorescence with high quantum yield, promising photostability and excellent biocompatibility, which make them potential bioimaging agents.

Real time detection of the nerve agent simulant diethylchlorophosphate by nonfluorophoric small molecules generating a cyclization-induced fluorogenic response.

Chemical warfare agents (CWA) are some of the most nefarious weapons, and their possible use in terrorist attacks has led to growing interest in the development of reliable and accurate methods to detect these lethal chemicals. In this paper, we have prepared three nonfluorophores containing 2-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-malononitrile with various 5-substituents as chemosensor probes for a nerve-agent simulant, diethylchlorophosphate (DCP). The phenolic group of the probes, as the active site, can be rapidly phosphorylated by DCP via nucleophilic substitution and then undergo a simultaneous intramolecular cyclization reaction within 45 s, which can respond to DCP in turn-on fluorescence mode. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the utilization of non-fluorophoric small molecule species to generate a fluorogenic response from DCP along with an investigation of substituent effects on the sensing response. The detection process can be visualized by the naked eye and under a UV lamp the probe HNBM exhibits a strong green fluorescence upon interaction with DCP. Among the three chemosensors, probe HNBM displayed several beneficial attributes such as an extremely fast response time along with high selectivity, sensitivity and the lowest limit of detection (0.10 µM) with DCP in solution. TDDFT calculations were performed in order to demonstrate the electronic properties of the probe and the cyclized product. Furthermore, the probe was used to develop a low cost portable cellulose paper strip for real-time visual detection of DCP vapor. Also, the probe has been extensively used to detect DCP in live cells.

A chromogenic and ratiometric fluorogenic probe for rapid detection of a nerve agent simulant DCP based on a hybrid hydroxynaphthalene-hemicyanine dye.

A new cyanine dye (CYD) based on hybrid hydroxynaphthalene-hemicyanine has been synthesized and characterized. The chromogenic and ratiometric fluorogenic probe (CYD) enables a fast and highly sensitive response to an OP nerve agent mimic diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP) through tandem phosphorylation and intramolecular cyclization reaction within 1 min and with the detection limit as low as 18.86 nM. To our knowledge this is the first report of a hydroxyl assisted bathochromic shift in a selective chemodosimeter for DCP exhibiting a ratiometric response. TDDFT calculations were performed in order to demonstrate the electronic properties of the probe and the cyclized product. Moreover, the utility of the probe CYD for the detection of DCP in live cells, in the gas phase and in a spiked soil sample has also been demonstrated.

Benzimidazole based ratiometric and colourimetric chemosensor for Ni(II).

A highly sensitive and selective benzimidazole based colourimetric chemosensor (HL) for the efficient detection of Ni(2+) has been reported. The synthesized chemosensor HL is highly efficient in detecting Ni(2+) over other metal ions that commonly coexist with Ni(2+) in physiological and environmental samples. HL also shows distinct color change from orange yellow to blue visible under the naked eye due to specific binding with Ni(2+). This color change corresponds to a large red shift of the UV-Vis spectrum from 403 nm to 600 nm with a distinct isosbestic point at around 500 nm. The cation sensing property of the receptor HL has been examined by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Electronic structure of the HL-Ni(2+) complex and sensing mechanism has been interpreted by DFT and TDDFT calculations.

Synthesis, crystal structure and spectral properties of 2-[(1-Methyl-2-benzimidazolyl)azo]-p-cresol: an experimental and theoretical study.

2-[(1-Methyl-2-benzimidazolyl)azo]-p-cresol (HL), containing phenolic-OH function and benzimidazole moiety has been synthesized and characterized. The chemical, electronic structure and photophysical properties have been studied by spectroscopic analysis abetted with DFT and TDDFT calculations. The change in electronic spectra of HL by titration with aq. NaOH is studied and well supported by TDDFT calculations. The structure is confirmed by single crystal X-ray study. In the unit cell, two HL molecules are H-bonded with H2O molecule and forms dimmeric structure. The molecule forms 2D-supramolecular structure by inter-molecular H-bonding and π-π interactions.