Benzo-Crown-Ether functionalized O-BODIPY Probes for Cations - A Selective Fluorescent Probe for Ba2.

Herein, we report the synthesis and sensing characteristics of 4,4'-methoxy-substituted BODIPY fluorescent probes (OBODIPYs) 3, 4 and 5 equipped with differently sized benzo-crown ethers (cf. Scheme 1, 3 (benzo-15-crown-5), 4 (benzo-18-crown-6) and 5 (benzo-21-crown7)). O-BODIPYs 3, 4 and 5 exhibited in comparison to their known F-BODIPY analogues 3a, 4a and 5a (cf. Scheme 1) an improved solubility in aqueous medium and higher fluorescence quantum yields. Fluorometric study in aqueous solutions of 3, 4 and 5 in the presence of different cations show cation induced fluorescence enhancements (FE). Compared to the benzo-crown ether substituted F-BODIPY analogues 3a, 4a and 5a, we found for the free O-BODIPYs 3, 4 and 5 higher fluorescence quantum yields (ϕf ) but lower cation induced FEs. We show that in aqueous medium the fluorescence quenching process (OFF switching), a photoinduced electron transfer, in O-BODIPYs 3, 4 and 5 is less effective and consequently sensitive and selective ON switching of the fluorescence by cations, too. Albeit these observations the novel benzo-21-crown-7 equipped fluorescent probe 5 exhibits a good fluorometric Ba2+ selectivity and Ba2+ sensitivity in conjunction to their superior aqueous solubility.

Selective and pH-Independent Detection of Ba2+ in Water by a Benzo-21-crown-7-Functionalized BODIPY.

Herein, we report on highly Ba2+ selective fluorescence sensing in water by a fluorescent probe consisting of a benzo-21-crown-7 as a Ba2+ binding unit (ionophore) and a tetramethylated BODIPY fluorophore as a fluorescence reporter. This fluorescent probe showed a Ba2+ induced fluorescence enhancement (FE) by a factor of 12±1 independently of the pH value and a high Ba2+ sensitivity with a limit of detection (LOD) of (17.2±0.3) µM. Moreover, a second fluorescent probe consisting of the same BODIPY fluorophore, but a benzo-18-crown-6 as a cation-responsive binding moiety, showed an even higher FE upon Ba2+ complexation by a factor of 85±3 and a lower LOD of (13±3) µM albeit a lower Ba2+ selectivity. The fluorescence sensing mechanism of Ba2+ was further investigated by time-resolved fluorescence as well as transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) and it turned out that within these probes a blocking of a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) by Ba2+ is very likely responsible for the FE.

Hilbert Space in Isotopologue Dy(III) SMM Dimers: Dipole Interaction Limit in [163/164Dy2(tmhd)6(tape)]0 Complexes.

Single-molecule magnets are molecular complexes proposed to be useful for information storage and quantum information processing applications. In the quest for multilevel systems that can act as Qudits, two dysprosium-based isotopologues were synthesized and characterized. The isotopologues are [164Dy2(tmhd)6(tape)] (1(I=0)) and [163Dy2(tmhd)6(tape)] (2(I=5/2)), where tmhd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptandionate and tape = 1,6,7,12-tetraazaperylene. Both complexes showed slow relaxation at a zero applied magnetic field with dominant Orbach and Raman relaxation mechanisms. µSQUID studies at milli-Kelvin temperatures reveal quasi-single ion loops, in contrast with the expected S-shape (near zero field) butterfly loops, characteristic of antiferromagnetically coupled dimeric complexes. Through analysis of the low-temperature data, we find that the interaction operating between Dy(III) is small, leading to a small exchange biasing from the zero-field transition. The resulting indirectly coupled nuclear states are degenerate or possess a small energy difference between them. We, therefore, conclude that for the creation of Qudits with enlarged Hilbert spaces, shorter Dy(III)···Dy(III) distances are deemed essential.

Na+ Selective Fluorescent Tools Based on Fluorescence Intensity Enhancements, Lifetime Changes, and on a Ratiometric Response.

Over the years, we developed highly selective fluorescent probes for K+ in water, which show K+ -induced fluorescence intensity enhancements, lifetime changes, or a ratiometric behavior at two emission wavelengths (cf. Scheme 1, K1-K4). In this paper, we introduce selective fluorescent probes for Na+ in water, which also show Na+ induced signal changes, which are analyzed by diverse fluorescence techniques. Initially, we synthesized the fluorescent probes 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10 for a fluorescence analysis by intensity enhancements at one wavelength by varying the Na+ responsive ionophore unit and the fluorophore moiety to adjust different Kd values for an intra- or extracellular Na+ analysis. Thus, we found that 2, 4 and 5 are Na+ selective fluorescent tools, which are able to measure physiologically important Na+ levels at wavelengths higher than 500 nm. Secondly, we developed the fluorescent probes 7 and 8 to analyze precise Na+ levels by fluorescence lifetime changes. Herein, only 8 (Kd =106 mm) is a capable fluorescent tool to measure Na+ levels in blood samples by lifetime changes. Finally, the fluorescent probe 9 was designed to show a Na+ induced ratiometric fluorescence behavior at two emission wavelengths. As desired, 9 (Kd =78 mm) showed a ratiometric fluorescence response towards Na+ ions and is a suitable tool to measure physiologically relevant Na+ levels by the intensity change of two emission wavelengths at 404 nm and 492 nm.

Systematic Experimental Study on Quantum Sieving of Hydrogen Isotopes in Metal-Amide-Imidazolate Frameworks with narrow 1-D Channels.

Quantum sieving of hydrogen isotopes is experimentally studied in isostructural hexagonal metal-organic frameworks having 1-D channels, named IFP-1, -3, -4 and -7. Inside the channels, different molecules or atoms restrict the channel diameter periodically with apertures larger (4.2 Šfor IFP-1, 3.1 Šfor IFP-3) and smaller (2.1 Šfor IFP-7, 1.7 Šfor IFP-4) than the kinetic diameter of hydrogen isotopes. From a geometrical point of view, no gas should penetrate into IFP-7 and IFP-4, but due to the thermally induced flexibility, so-called gate-opening effect of the apertures, penetration becomes possible with increasing temperature. Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) measurements with pure H2 or D2 have been applied to study isotope adsorption. Further TDS experiments after exposure to an equimolar H2 /D2 mixture allow to determine directly the selectivity of isotope separation by quantum sieving. IFP-7 shows a very low selectivity not higher than S=2. The selectivity of the materials with the smallest pore aperture IFP-4 has a constant value of S≈2 for different exposure times and pressures, which can be explained by the 1-D channel structure. Due to the relatively small cavities between the apertures of IFP-4 and IFP-7, molecules in the channels cannot pass each other, which leads to a single-file filling. Therefore, no time dependence is observed, since the quantum sieving effect occurs only at the outermost pore aperture, resulting in a low separation selectivity.

A Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for K+ in Water Based on a Phenylaza-18-Crown-6 Lariat Ether.

This work presents two molecular fluorescent probes 1 and 2 for the selective determination of physiologically relevant K+ levels in water based on a highly K+ /Na+ selective building block, the o-(2-methoxyethoxy)phenylaza-18-crown-6 lariat ether unit. Fluorescent probe 1 showed a high K+ -induced fluorescence enhancement (FE) by a factor of 7.7 of the anthracenic emission and a dissociation constant (Kd ) value of 38 mm in water. Further, for 2+K+ , we observed a dual emission behavior at 405 and 505 nm. K+ increases the fluorescence intensity of 2 at 405 nm by a factor of approximately 4.6 and K+ decreases the fluorescence intensity at 505 nm by a factor of about 4.8. Fluorescent probe 2+K+ exhibited a Kd value of approximately 8 mm in Na+ -free solutions and in combined K+ /Na+ solution a similar Kd value of about 9 mm was found, reflecting the high K+ /Na+ selectivity of 2 in water. Therefore, 2 is a promising fluorescent tool to measure ratiometrically and selectively physiologically relevant K+ levels.

Design of Na+ -Selective Fluorescent Probes: A Systematic Study of the Na+ -Complex Stability and the Na+ /K+ Selectivity in Acetonitrile and Water.

There is a tremendous demand for highly Na+ -selective fluoroionophores to monitor the top analyte Na+ in life science. Here, we report a systematic route to develop highly Na+ /K+ selective fluorescent probes. Thus, we synthesized a set of fluoroionophores 1, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 (see Scheme ) to investigate the Na+ /K+ selectivity and Na+ - complex stability in CH3 CN and H2 O. These Na+ -probes bear different 15-crown-5 moieties to bind Na+ stronger than K+ . In the set of the diethylaminocoumarin-substituted fluoroionophores 1-5, the following trend of fluorescence quenching 1>3>2>4>5 in CH3 CN was observed. Therefore, the flexibility of the aza-15-crown-5 moieties in 1-4 determines the conjugation of the nitrogen lone pair with the aromatic ring. As a consequence, 1 showed in CH3 CN the highest Na+ -induced fluorescence enhancement (FE) by a factor of 46.5 and a weaker K+ induced FE of 3.7. The Na+ -complex stability of 1-4 in CH3 CN is enhanced in the following order of 2>4>3>1, assuming that the O-atom of the methoxy group in the ortho-position, as shown in 2, strengthened the Na+ -complex formation. Furthermore, we found for the N-(o-methoxyphenyl)aza-15-crown-5 substituted fluoroionophores 2, 8 and 9 in H2 O, an enhanced Na+ -complex stability in the following order 8>2>9 and an increased Na+ /K+ selectivity in the reverse order 9>2>8. Notably, the Na+ -induced FE of 8 (FEF=10.9), 2 (FEF=5.0) and 9 (FEF=2.0) showed a similar trend associated with a decreased K+ -induced FE [8 (FEF=2.7)>2 (FEF=1.5)>9 (FEF=1.1)]. Here, the Na+ -complex stability and Na+ /K+ selectivity is also influenced by the fluorophore moiety. Thus, fluorescent probe 8 (Kd =48 mm) allows high-contrast, sensitive, and selective Na+ measurements over extracellular K+ levels. A higher Na+ /K+ selectivity showed fluorescent probe 9, but also a higher Kd value of 223 mm. Therefore, 9 is a suitable tool to measure Na+ concentrations up to 300 mm at a fluorescence emission of 614 nm.

Highly K+ -Selective Fluorescent Probes for Lifetime Sensing of K+ in Living Cells.

The new K+ -selective fluorescent probes 1 and 2 were obtained by CuI -catalyzed 1,3-dipolar azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions of an alkyne-substituted [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-f][1,3]benzodioxole (DBD) ester fluorophore with azido-functionalized N-phenylaza-18-crown-6 ether and N-(o-isopropoxy) phenylaza-18-crown-6 ether, respectively. Probes 1 and 2 allow the detection of K+ in the presence of Na+ in water by fluorescence enhancement (2.2 for 1 at 2000 mm K+ and 2.5 for 2 at 160 mm K+ ). Fluorescence lifetime measurements in the absence and presence of K+ revealed bi-exponential decay kinetics with similar lifetimes, however with different proportions changing the averaged fluorescence decay times (τf(av) ). For 1 a decrease of τf(av) from 12.4 to 9.3 ns and for 2 an increase from 17.8 to 21.8 ns was observed. Variation of the substituent in ortho position of the aniline unit of the N-phenylaza-18-crown-6 host permits the modulation of the Kd value for a certain K+ concentration. For example, substitution of H in 1 by the isopropoxy group (2) decreased the Kd value from >300 mm to 10 mm. 2 was chosen for studying the efflux of K+ from human red blood cells (RBC). Upon addition of the Ca2+ ionophor ionomycin to a RBC suspension in a buffer containing Ca2+ , the fluorescence of 2 slightly rose within 10 min, however, after 120 min a significant increase was observed.

The 1,6,7,12-Tetraazaperylene Bridging Ligand as an Electron Reservoir and Its Disulfonato Derivative as Redox Mediator in an Enzyme-Electrode Process.

The homodinuclear ruthenium(II) complex [{Ru(l-N4 Me2 )}2 (µ-tape)](PF6 )4 {[1](PF6 )4 } (l-N4 Me2 =N,N'-dimethyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)-pyridinophane, tape=1,6,7,12-tetraazaperylene) can store one or two electrons in the energetically low-lying π* orbital of the bridging ligand tape. The corresponding singly and doubly reduced complexes [{Ru(l-N4 Me2 )}2 (µ-tape.- )](PF6 )3 {[2](PF6 )3 } and [{Ru(l-N4 Me2 )}2 (µ-tape2- )](PF6 )2 {[3](PF6 )2 }, respectively, were electrochemically generated, successfully isolated and fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, spectroscopic methods and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The singly reduced complex [2](PF6 )3 contains the π-radical tape.- and the doubly reduced [3](PF6 )2 the diamagnetic dianion tape2- as bridging ligand, respectively. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution at the bridging tape in [1]4+ by two sulfite units gave the complex [{Ru(l-N4 Me2 )}2 {µ-tape-(SO3 )2 }]2+ ([4]2+ ). Complex dication [4]2+ was exploited as a redox mediator between an anaerobic homogenous reaction solution of an enzyme system (sulfite/sulfite oxidase) and the electrode via participation of the low-energy π*-orbital of the disulfonato-substituted bridging ligand tape-(SO3 )22- (Ered1 =-0.1 V versus Ag/AgCl/1 m KCl in water).

Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of the Influence of Different Linker Molecules in Imidazolate Frameworks Potsdam (IFP-n) on the Separation of Olefin-Paraffin Mixtures.

Four metal-organic frameworks with similar topology but different chemical environment inside the pore structure, namely, IFP-1, IFP-3, IFP-5, and IFP-7, have been investigated with respect to the separation potential for olefin-paraffin mixtures as well as the influence of the different linkers on adsorption properties using experiments and Monte Carlo simulations. All IFP structures show a higher adsorption of ethane compared to ethene with the exception of IFP-7 which shows no selectivity in breakthrough experiments. For propane/propane separation, all adsorbents show a higher adsorption for the olefin. The experimental results agree quite well with the simulated values except for the IFP-7, which is presumably due to the flexibility of the structure. Moreover, the experimental and simulated isotherms were confirmed with breakthrough experiments that render IFP-1, IFP-3, and IFP-5 as suitable for the purification of ethene from ethane.

Study of the Discrepancies between Crystallographic Porosity and Guest Access into Cadmium-Imidazolate Frameworks and Tunable Luminescence Properties by Incorporation of Lanthanides.

An extended member of the isoreticular family of metal-imidazolate framework structures, IFP-6 (IFP=imidazolate framework Potsdam), based on cadmium metal and an in situ functionalized 2-methylimidazolate-4-amide-5-imidate linker is reported. A porous 3D framework with 1D hexagonal channels with accessible pore windows of 0.52 nm has been synthesized by using an ionic liquid (IL) linker precursor. IFP-6 shows significant gas uptake capacity only for CO2 and CH4 at elevated pressure, whereas it does not adsorb N2 , H2 , and CH4 under atmospheric conditions. IFP-6 is assumed to deteriorate at the outside of the material during the activation process. This closing of the metal-organic framework (MOF) pores is proven by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), which revealed inherent crystal defects. PALS results support the conservation of the inner pores of IFP-6. IFP-6 has also been successfully loaded with luminescent trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln(III) =Tb, Eu, and Sm) in a bottom-up one-pot reaction through the in situ generation of the linker ligand and in situ incorporation of photoluminescent Ln ions into the constituting network. The results of photoluminescence investigations and powder XRD provide evidence that the Ln ions are not doped as connectivity centers into the frameworks, but are instead located within the pores of the MOFs. Under UV light irradiation, Tb@IFP-6 and Eu@IFP-6 (λexc =365 nm) exhibit observable emission changes to a greenish and reddish color, respectively, as a result of strong Ln 4 f emissions.

Breaking Down Chemical Weapons by Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Seek and destroy: Filtration schemes and self-detoxifying protective fabrics based on the Zr(IV)-containing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) MOF-808 and UiO-66 doped with LiOtBu have been developed that capture and hydrolytically detoxify simulants of nerve agents and mustard gas. Both MOFs function as highly catalytic elements in these applications.

A Highly K(+)-Selective Two-Photon Fluorescent Probe.

A highly K(+)-selective two-photon fluorescent probe for the in vitro monitoring of physiological K(+) levels in the range of 1-100 mM is reported. The two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) probe shows a fluorescence enhancement (FE) by a factor of about three in the presence of 160 mM K(+), independently of one-photon (OP, 430 nm) or two-photon (TP, 860 nm) excitation and comparable K(+)-induced FEs in the presence of competitive Na(+) ions. The estimated dissociation constant (Kd ) values in Na(+)-free solutions (Kd (OP) =(28±5) mM and Kd (TP)=(36±6) mM) and in combined K(+)/Na(+) solutions (Kd (OP) =(38±8) mM and Kd (TP)=(46±25) mM) reflecting the high K(+)/Na(+) selectivity of the fluorescent probe. The TP absorption cross-section (σ2PA ) of the TPEF probe+160 mM K(+) is 26 GM at 860 nm. Therefore, the TPEF probe is a suitable tool for the in vitro determination of K(+).

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Defects Metal-Imidazolate-Amide-Imidate Frameworks and Improved CO2 Capture.

In this work, we report three isostructural 3D frameworks, named IFP-11 (R = Cl), IFP-12 (R = Br), and IFP-13 (R = Et) (IFP = Imidazolate Framework Potsdam) based on a cobalt(II) center and the chelating linker 2-substituted imidazolate-4-amide-5-imidate. These chelating ligands were generated in situ by partial hydrolysis of 2-substituted 4,5-dicyanoimidazoles under microwave (MW)-assisted conditions in DMF. Structure determination of these IFPs was investigated by IR spectroscopy and a combination of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) with structure modeling. The structural models were initially built up from the single-crystal X-ray structure determination of IFP-5 (a cobalt center and 2-methylimidazolate-4-amide-5-imidate linker based framework) and were optimized by using density functional theory calculations. Substitution on position 2 of the linker (R = Cl, Br, and Et) in the isostructural IFP-11, -12, and -13 allowed variation of the potential pore window in 1D hexagonal channels (3.8 to 1.7 Å). The potential of the materials to undergo specific interactions with CO2 was measured by the isosteric heat of adsorption. Further, we resynthesized zinc based IFPs, namely IFP-1 (R = Me), IFP-2 (R = Cl), IFP-3 (R = Br), and IFP-4 (R = Et), and cobalt based IFP-5 under MW-assisted conditions with higher yield. The transition from a nucleation phase to the pure crystalline material of IFP-1 in MW-assisted synthesis depends on reaction time. IFP-1, -3, and -5, which are synthesized by MW-assisted conditions, showed an enhancement of N2 and CO2, compared to the analogous conventional electrical (CE) heating method based materials due to crystal defects.

Giant Zn14 molecular building block in hydrogen-bonded network with permanent porosity for gas uptake.

In situ imidazolate-4,5-diamide-2-olate linker generation leads to the formation of a [Zn14(L2)12(O)(OH)2(H2O)4] molecular building block (MBB) with a Zn6 octahedron inscribed in a Zn8 cube. The MBBs connect by amide-amide hydrogen bonds to a 3D robust supramolecular network which can be activated for N2, CO2, CH4, and H2 gas sorption.

Imidazolium 2-substituted 4,5-dicyanoimidazolate ionic liquids: synthesis, crystal structures and structure-thermal property relationships.

Thirty six novel ionic liquids (ILs) with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium and 3-methyl-1-octylimidazolium cations paired with 2-substitited 4,5-dicyanoimidazolate anions (substituent at C2 = chloro, bromo, methoxy, vinyl, amino, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl and phenyl) have been synthesized and characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The effects of cation and anion type and structure on the thermal properties of the resulting ionic liquids, including several room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are examined and discussed. ILs exhibited large liquid and crystallization ranges and formed glasses on cooling with glass transition temperatures in the range of -22 to -68 °C. The effects of alkyl substituents of the imidazolate anion reflected the crystallization, melting points and thermal decomposition of the ILs. The Coulombic packing force, van der Waals forces and size of the anions can be considered for altering the thermal transitions. Three crystal structures of the ILs were determined and the effects of changes to the cations and anions on the packing of the structure were investigated.

Crystal structure of (2,11-di-aza-[3.3](2,6)pyridino-phane-κ (4) N,N',N'',N''')(1,6,7,12-tetra-aza-perylene-κ (2) N (1),N (12))ruthenium(II) bis-(hexa-fluorido-phosphate) aceto-nitrile 1.422-solvate.

In the title compound, [Ru(C14H16N4)(C16H8N4)](PF6)2·1.422CH3CN, discrete dimers of complex cations, [Ru(L-N4H2)tape](2+) are formed {L-N4H2 = 2,11-di-aza-[3.3](2,6)pyridino-phane; tape = 1,6,7,12-tetra-aza-perylene}, held together by π-π stacking inter-actions via the tape ligand moieties with a centroid-centroid distance of 3.49 (2) Å, assisted by hydrogen bonds between the non-coordinating tape ligand α,α'-di-imine unit and the amine proton of a 2,11-di-aza-[3.3](2,6)-pyridino-phane ligand of the opposite complex cation. The combination of these inter-actions leads to an unusual nearly face-to-face π-π stacking mode. Additional weak C-H⋯N, C-H⋯F, N-H⋯F and P-F⋯π-ring (tape, py) (with F⋯centroid distances of 2.925-3.984 Å) inter-actions are found, leading to a three-dimensional architecture. The Ru(II) atom is coordinated in a distorted octa-hedral geometry, particularly manifested by the Namine-Ru-Namine angle of 153.79 (10)°. The counter-charge is provided by two hexa-fluorido-phosphate anions and the asymmetric unit is completed by aceto-nitrile solvent mol-ecules of crystallization. Disorder was observed for both the hexa-fluorido-phosphate anions as well as the aceto-nitrile solvate mol-ecules, with occupancies for the major moieties of 0.801 (6) for one of the PF6 anions, and a shared occupancy of 0.9215 (17) for the second PF6 anion and a partially occupied aceto-nitrile mol-ecule. A second CH3CN mol-ecule is fully occupied, but 1:1 disordered across a crystallographic inversion center.

(1,6,7,12-Tetra-aza-perylene-κ(2) N,N')bis-(4,4',5,5'-tetra-methyl-2,2'-bipyridyl-κ(2) N,N')ruthenium(II) bis-(hexa-fluorido-phosphate) aceto-nitrile tris-olvate.

In the title compound, rac-[Ru(C14H16N2)2(C16H8N4)](PF6)2·3C2H3N, discrete dimers of complex cations, [Ru(tmbpy)2-tape](2+), of opposite chirality are formed (tmbpy = tetra-methyl-bipyridine; tape = tetraazaperylene), held together by π-π stacking inter-actions between the tetra-aza-perylene moieties with centroid-centroid distances in the range 3.563 (3)-3.837 (3) Å. These inter-actions exhibit a parallel displaced π-π stacking mode. Additional weak C-H⋯π-ring and C-H⋯N and C-H⋯F inter-actions are found, leading to a three-dimensional architecture. The Ru(II) atom is coordinated in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. The counter-charge is provided by two hexa-fluorido-phosphate anions and the asymmetric unit is completed by three aceto-nitrile solvent mol-ecules of crystallization. Four F atoms of one PF6 (-) anion are disordered over three sets of sites with occupancies of 0.517 (3):0.244 (3):0.239 (3). Two aceto-nitrile solvent mol-ecules are highly disordered and their estimated scattering contribution was subtracted from the observed diffraction data using the SQUEEZE option in PLATON [Spek (2009 ▶). Acta Cryst. D65, 148-155].

µ-1,6,7,12-Tetra-aza-perylene-κ(4) N (1),N (12):N (6),N (7)-bis-[chlorido-(η(6)-p-cymene)ruthenium(II)] bis-(hexa-fluorido-phosphate) acetone disolvate.

In the title compound, [Ru2(C10H14)2Cl2(C16H8N4)](PF6)2·2C3H6O, the binuclear Ru(II) complex dication, [{RuCl(η(6)-cym)}2(µ-tape)](2+), built up by a planar 1,6,7,12-tetra-aza-perylene (tape) bridge, two η(6)-bound cymene (cym) ligands and two chloride ligands, includes an inversion center. The Ru(II) atom shows the typical piano-stool motif for arene coordination. The counter-charge is provided by a hexa-fluorido-phosphate anion and the asymmetric unit is completed by an acetone mol-ecule of crystallization. The components of the structure are connected into a three-dimensional architecture by C-H⋯O/F/Cl inter-actions.

Integration of the 1,2,3-triazole "click" motif as a potent signalling element in metal ion responsive fluorescent probes.

In a systematic approach we synthesized a new series of fluorescent probes incorporating donor-acceptor (D-A) substituted 1,2,3-triazoles as conjugative π-linkers between the alkali metal ion receptor N-phenylaza-[18]crown-6 and different fluorophoric groups with different electron-acceptor properties (4-naphthalimide, meso-phenyl-BODIPY and 9-anthracene) and investigated their performance in organic and aqueous environments (physiological conditions). In the charge-transfer (CT) type probes 1, 2 and 7, the fluorescence is almost completely quenched by intramolecular CT (ICT) processes involving charge-separated states. In the presence of Na(+) and K(+) ICT is interrupted, which resulted in a lighting-up of the fluorescence in acetonitrile. Among the investigated fluoroionophores, compound 7, which contains a 9-anthracenyl moiety as the electron-accepting fluorophore, is the only probe which retains light-up features in water and works as a highly K(+)/Na(+)-selective probe under simulated physiological conditions. Virtually decoupled BODIPY-based 6 and photoinduced electron transfer (PET) type probes 3-5, where the 10-substituted anthracen-9-yl fluorophores are connected to the 1,2,3-triazole through a methylene spacer, show strong ion-induced fluorescence enhancement in acetonitrile, but not under physiological conditions. Electrochemical studies and theoretical calculations were used to assess and support the underlying mechanisms for the new ICT and PET 1,2,3-triazole fluoroionophores.