Design, synthesis and photochemical properties of the first examples of iminosugar clusters based on fluorescent cores.

The synthesis and photophysical properties of the first examples of iminosugar clusters based on a BODIPY or a pyrene core are reported. The tri- and tetravalent systems designed as molecular probes and synthesized by way of Cu(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloadditions are fluorescent analogues of potent pharmacological chaperones/correctors recently reported in the field of Gaucher disease and cystic fibrosis, two rare genetic diseases caused by protein misfolding.

Thiazolidine derivatives from fluorescent dithienyl-BODIPY-carboxaldehydes and cysteine.

Fluorescent dithienyl-borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes formylated in the ß'-position (2b, 2c) have been treated with L-cysteine to provide thiazolidine derivatives. N-Protection of the thiazolidine unit by ethoxycarbonylation facilitated isolation of the two major diasteroisomers 6 and 7. These stereoisomers have been fully characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, allowing assignment of their stereochemistry as 2R,4R,aS and 2S,4R,aR, respectively. The optical properties of the thiazolidine dyes differ markedly in both absorption (λ(abs) = 612 nm for 6 and 615 nm for 7) and emission (λ(em) = 669 nm, Φ(F) = 62% for 6 and λ(em) = 672 nm, Φ(F) = 19% for 7) from those of the BODIPY-carboxaldehydes 2b (λ(abs) = 643 nm and λ(em) = 719 nm, Φ(F) = 26%) and 2c (λ(abs) = 636 nm and λ(em) = 710 nm, Φ(F) = 36%). In a mixed solvent [phosphate buffer saline (PBS), pH = 7.4/ethanol 1:9], the fluorescence response of the dyes in the presence of L-cysteine is slow, but a ratiometric detection process in the therapeutic window (650 to 800 nm) is evident.

Photophysical properties of an unusual bichromophoric species constructed from a cyclometalated Pt(II) chromophore and a blue Bodipy-acetylacetonate species.

A Bodipy species bearing an acetyl-acetonate (acac) group, , has been prepared from a blue absorbing borondipyrromethene core bearing gallate substituted paraffin chains. Compound chelates a Pt(ii) center having an orthometalated 2-phenyl-pyridine anion (ppy) as an additional ligand, giving rise to a new bichromophoric Pt(ii)-Bodipy species, . The absorption spectra, redox behavior and photophysical properties of , and of the neutral Pt(ii) compound , containing ppy and an acac derivative as ligands, have been studied. Compounds and are used as models for the Bodipy-based and the metal-based subunits of , respectively. The (3)LC emission of is fully quenched in , whereas the Bodipy fluorescence is only weakly reduced in compared to , indicating weak interaction between the subunits. Two different charge-separated (CS) states have a role in the intercomponent excited state decays of . Notably, whereas in all the previously investigated bichromophoric metal(polypyridine)-Bodipy compounds, the light absorbed by the metal-based unit leads to population of the lowest-energy triplet Bodipy-based level, in it contributes with high efficiency (>99%) to the Bodipy fluorescence. An efficient and formally forbidden (3)LC to (1)Bodipy energy transfer occurring by Förster mechanism is, unprecedently, the dominant (3)LC decay process in .

Photoinduced energy transfer processes in hybrid organic-inorganic multichromophoric arrays arranged on a truxene-based platform.

The synthesis, photophysical characterization and energy-transfer features of a series of hybrid truxene derivatives peripherally decorated with inorganic Os-containing polypyridine units and organic Bodipy dyes are reported. The photoactive terminal units are coupled to the central truxene scaffold by rigid ethynyl linkers in a star-shaped arrangement. The absorption range widely covers the UV-Vis spectrum and the Os (3)MLCT or the Bodipy triplet act as final collectors of the absorbed energy.

Spirobifluorene bridged Ir(III) and Os(II) polypyridyl arrays: synthesis, photophysical characterization, and energy transfer dynamics.

The synthesis, characterization, photophysics, and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations of spirobifluorene-bipyridine based iridium(III), osmium(II), and mixed Ir/Os complexes are presented. The preparation of the reference and mixed complexes proceeded step-by-step and microwave irradiation facilitated the complexation of osmium. The absorption of the target heterobimetallic derivative, Ir-L-Os, is described by linear combination of half of the absorption spectra of the homobimetallic analogues, Ir-L-Ir and Os-L-Os, due to the occurrence of mixed ligand and metal based transitions when the spirobifluorene-(bpy)(2) bridging ligand L is linked to the metal, confirming a negligible interaction between the substituted metallic chromophores. TD-DFT calculations on monometallic, homo- and hetero-bimetallic complexes fully disentangled the origin of the absorption features. Noticeably, in the mixed Ir-L-Os complex an almost quantitative energy transfer from the (3)Ir to the (3)Os MLCT state is occurring, with a rate constant of 4.1 × 10(8) s(-1) and nearly exclusively via a Dexter-type mechanism mediated by the orbitals of the spiroconjugated ligand. This result, together with the outcomes of the TD-DFT calculations, supports the existence of spiroconjugation and evidences the interesting role of this kind of bridge in the energy transfer dynamics of the arrays. In all the complexes, moreover, the ligand fluorescence is heavily quenched by energy transfer processes toward the metallic appended units; the rate constant is estimated in the order of 10(10) s(-1) for Ir-L-Os and higher than 10(12) s(-1) for the other complexes. In the heterometallic array, both at room temperature and at 77 K, all photons are thus funneled to the emissive Os (3)MLCT state, which acts as energy trap for the antenna cascade.

Towards libraries of luminescent lanthanide complexes and labels from generic synthons.

A synthetic approach is developed to obtain families of luminescent lanthanide complexes and markers from a generic family of precursors built from nonadentate coordination sites. The syntheses of the precursors, based on a directed regioselective nucleophilic aromatic substitution on polyfluoropyridines, are described. Functionalisation of the synthons on the aromatic moieties allowed the introduction of labelling functions and/or the extension of the electronic delocalisation, with concomitant changes in the spectroscopic properties. The synthesis of two such families of ligands and of some of their complexes of Eu(III) and Tb(III) are described, and the photo-physical properties of the complexes were measured, revealing excellent luminescence quantum yields reaching unity in some cases. For some of these complexes, the emphasis was further put on the preparation of an N-hydroxylsuccinimide (NHS) ester as activated function for labelling. The Tb and La complexes in the NHS activated form were synthesized and fully characterized. The labelling was first demonstrated on amino functionalized polymer beads and characterized by time-resolved luminescence microscopy. In a second step, the activated Tb complex was used for the labelling of GFR44 monoclonal antibody, and was applied to the detection of carcinoembryonic antigene (CEA) within the frame of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Comparison with a commercially available kit based on a europium cryptate as energy donor confirms the efficiency of Tb to act as an energy donor with an unoptimised 35% increase of the detection efficiency.

Water-soluble BODIPY derivatives.

New, water-soluble BODIPY dyes have been readily obtained from various BODIPY cores by reactions involving the introduction of novel sulfonated peptide chains by either coupling or substitution to give dimethylpropargylamine derivatives subsequently quaternized by reaction with propanesultone.

Solid-state gas sensors developed from functional difluoroboradiazaindacene dyes.

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of several new difluoroboradiazaindacene (BODIPY) dyes functionalized at the central 8-position by a phenyliodo, phenylheptynoate or phenylheptynoic fragment and at the 3- or 3/5-position(s) by 4-dimethylaminophenylstyryl residue(s). Single-crystal structural determinations confirm the planarity of the dyes, while the absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic properties are highly sensitive to the state of protonation (or alkylation) of the terminal anilino donor group(s). Reversible color tuning from green to blue for absorption and from colorless (i.e., near-IR region) to red for fluorescence is obtained on successive addition of acid and base. The difunctionalized derivative is especially interesting in this respect and shows two well-resolved pK(a) values of 5.10 and 3.04 in acetonitrile. Addition of the first proton causes only small spectral changes and deactivates the molecule towards addition of the second proton. It is this latter step that accommodates the large change in absorption and emission properties, due to the reversible extinction of the intramolecular charge-transfer character inherent to this type of dye. The main focus of the work is the covalent anchoring of the dyes to inert, porous polyacrylate beads so as to form a solid-state sensor suitable for analysis of gases or flowing liquids. The final material is highly stable--its performance is undiminished after more than one year--and fully reversible over many cycles. The sensitivity is such that reactions can be followed by the naked eye and the detection limit is about 600 ppb for HCl and about 80 ppb for ammonia. Trace amounts of diphosgene can be detected, as can alkylating agents. The sensing action is indiscriminate and also operates when the beads are dispersed in aqueous media.

Spectroscopic properties of orthometalated platinum(II) bipyridine complexes containing various ethynylaryl groups.

Neutral orthometalated platinum(II) complexes of the deprotonated 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine ligand (bearing a trialkoxygallate, tolyl, ethynyltrialkoxygallate, or ethynyltolyl substituent) and a sigma-bonded Cl, ethynyltolyl, or ethynyltrialkoxygallate coligand have been prepared by a stepwise procedure based on copper-promoted cross-coupling reactions. The X-ray structure of the [2-(p-tolyl)ethynyl][4-{2-(p-tolyl)ethynyl}-6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl)]platinum(II) complex revealed a coplanar arrangement of all residues bound to platinum, although the tolylethynyl groups exhibit position-dependent bending in the solid state. The complexes exhibit charge-transfer absorption in the visible region. All except two of the complexes also exhibit charge-transfer emission, typically from an excited state that has a submicrosecond lifetime at room temperature in deoxygenated dichloromethane solution. In accordance with the presence of a carbometalated polypyridine ligand, the emitting state is assumed to have a mixture of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) and intra-ligand charge-transfer (ILCT) character. However, spectral comparisons and electrochemical data suggest that the emissive state also exhibits interligand charge-transfer (LLCT) character when an electron-rich ethynylaryl group is bound to platinum. In keeping with altered orbital parentage in the latter systems, the emission occurs at longer wavelength. The excited-state lifetime is also shorter, evidently due to vibronic interactions. The decay is so efficient when an ethynyltrialkoxygallate group binds to platinum that there is no detectable emission in fluid solution, although the complexes do emit in a frozen glass. The excited states are subject to associative (exciplex) quenching by Lewis bases, but the admixture of ILCT and/or LLCT character diminishes efficiency, except for relatively strong bases like dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylformamide.

A rational protocol for the synthesis of arylated bipyridine ligands via a cycloaddition pathway.

A generic design principle for the preparation of a variety of substituted phenyl-polypyridine ligands is described. These ligands are readily prepared by a regioselective [4+2] cycloaddition between electron-deficient dienes, such as 2,6-disubstituted-1,3,4-triazines, and ethynyl-arenes or ethynyl-alkanes. Exceptional reactivity is found with electron-rich dienophiles bearing ethynylgallate or ethynylphenyldibutylamino groups. Two regioisomers are formed, the meta being preferred due to favorable pi-pi interactions in the transition state, while the para isomers are formed in low yields in most cases. The use of tert-butylacetylene or N,N-dimethylamino-2-propyne, however, drives the reaction exclusively to the para isomer. Di-N,N-dibutylaminophenyl or isoquinoline ligands can also be produced in a single step by reverse Diels-Alder reactions. Cross-coupling reactions of iodo-substituted ligands or their platinum(II) complexes under Pd(0) catalysis gives branched ligands and complexes bearing paraffin chains, electron-donor or electron-acceptor groups. The use of a chloro-Pt(II) complex of an iodo-functionalized ligand allows both halogens to be replaced by ethynyl groups by using different catalysts. This methodology readily accommodates various functional groups and has been successfully extended to systems containing a variety of donor/acceptor frameworks. All ligands strongly absorb in the near-UV and luminesce in solution at rt with quantum yields ranging from 0 to 66%. Excited state lifetimes are in the nanosecond range and the solvent effects are in keeping with singlet excited states mixed with charge-transfer character. As deduced from spectroscopic and electrochemical studies, the di-n-butylamino derivatives are strong reductants in the excited state.

New polypyridine ligands functionalized with redox-active Fe(II) organometallic fragments.

We report in this Communication the isolation and characterization, including structure determinations, of 2,2',6',2"-terpyridine (2) and 2,2'-bipyridine (3) ligands bearing two redox-active "(eta2-dppe)(eta5-C5Me5)FeC[triple bond]C-" moieties grafted to the 5 and 5" positions of terpy or to the 5 and 5' positions of bipy. These "metalloligands" have been complexed with Ru(II) and Mo(0), providing new heterotrinuclear complexes displaying intense absorptions around 700 and 600 nm, respectively, for the Fe2Ru/terpy and Fe2Mo/bipy species. In both cases, the Fe(II)/Fe(III) oxidation potentials of the free ligands became more positive by more than 50 mV upon complexation.

Absorption spectra, photophysical properties, and redox behavior of ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes containing accessory dipyrromethene-BF2 chromophores.

The six multichromophoric species 1-6, containing the potentially luminescent Ru(II) polypyridine subunits and 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene fluorophores (dipyrromethene-BF(2) dyes, herein after called bodipy), have been prepared and their absorption spectra, luminescence properties (both at room temperature in fluid solution and at 77 K in rigid matrix), and redox properties have been investigated (for the structuralformulas of all the compounds, see Figure 1). For comparison purposes, also the same properties of the bodipy-based free ligands have been examined. Three of the multichromophoric species (1-3) are based on the Ru(bpy)(3)-type metal subunit, whereas 4-6 are based on the Ru(terpy)(2)-type metal subunit. Transient absorption spectroscopy at room temperature of all the compounds has also been performed. The absorption spectra of all the metal complexes show features that can be assigned to the Ru(II) polypyridine subunits and to the bodipy centers. In particular, the lowest energy spin-allowed pi-pi* transition of the bodipy groups dominates the visible region, peaking at about 530 nm. All the new complexes exhibit a rich redox behavior, with reversible processes attributed to specific sites, indicating a small perturbation of each redox center and therefore highlighting the supramolecular nature of the multichromophoric assemblies. Despite the good luminescence properties of the separated components, 1-6 do not exhibit any luminescence at room temperature; however, transient absorption spectroscopy evidences that for all of them a long-lived (microsecond time scale) excited state is formed, which is identified as the bodipy-based triplet state. Pump-probe transient absorption spectroscopy suggests that such a triplet state is formed from the promptly prepared bodipy-based (1)pi-pi* state in most cases by the intervention of a charge-separated level. At 77 K, all the complexes except complex 1 exhibit the bodipy-based fluorescence, although with a slightly shortened lifetime compared to the corresponding free ligand(s), and 4-6 also exhibit a phosphorescence assigned to the bodipy subunits. Phosphorescence of bodipy species had never been reported in the literature to the best of our knowledge: in the present cases we propose that it is an effective decay process thanks to the presence of the ruthenium heavy atom and of the closely lying (3)MLCT state of the Ru(terpy)(2)-type subunits.

Exciton-like energy collection in an oligothiophene wire end-capped by Ru- and Os-polypyridine chromophores.

Ru(II)- and Os(II)-polypyridine termini are linked by a quinquethiophene bridge (the inter-metal separation is ca. 1.9 nm) wherein excitation energy flows into the luminescent Os-based unit by way of a conductive level.

Lanthanide/ATP interaction in water mediated by luminescent hemispherical-shaped complexes.

Ligand LH(2), composed of two bipyridylcarboxylate fragments linked to an amino butyl chain, reacts with europium and terbium to form luminescent complexes in water at neutral pH. When testing these unsaturated complexes as anion sensors with NO(3)(-), HPO(4)(2)(-), AMP, ADP, and ATP, a marked selectivity is observed for HPO(4)(2)(-) and ATP(4)(-) at pH = 7.0. The interaction of these anions with the complex was investigated by means of absorption and emission spectroscopies. With ATP(4)(-), ES-MS and (31)P NMR experiments revealed the formation of a [Ln.L.(ATP)](3)(-) ternary species.

Coordination properties of a diarylaza crown ether appended with a luminescent [Ru(bipy)3]2+ unit.

The [Ru(bipy)(2)(1)](PF(6))(2) (bipy refers to 2,2'-bipyridine) complex, comprising a ruthenium(II) tris(2,2'-bipyridine) luminophore covalently linked to a di[(o-triethyleneglycoxy)phenyl]amine crown ether 1, has been synthesized and fully characterized. The photophysical properties of this metal complex have been examined in solution at ambient temperature. Luminescence from the metal complex is enhanced significantly in the presence of various adventitious cations, including protons. In particular, Li(+) cations bind to the crown ether, as evidenced by (1)H NMR and luminescence spectroscopy. Cation binding serves to decrease the rate of reductive quenching of the triplet state of the metal complex, thereby increasing the extent of luminescence. The solution-phase conformation of [Ru(bipy)(2)(1)](PF(6))(2), with and without encapsulated Li(+), has been examined by 2-D NMR and by molecular dynamics simulations.

A copper(II) complex of a pentadentate ligand featuring large ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions.

A novel pentadentate ligand based on a 2,2'-bipyridine template and functionalized with two methylene bridged nitroxide arms provides mononuclear Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes displaying a facial and meridional conformation, respectively; for Cu large intramolecular ferromagnetic (J/kB = +173 K) and antiferromagnetic (J'/kB = -170 K) exchange interactions are evidenced from magnetic measurements.