Selective detection of pyrophosphate anion by a simple Cd(II) based terpyridine complex.

A simple ratiometric terpyridine-Cd(ll) complex was synthesized by the treatment of CdCl2 with terpyridine ligand 4'-(4-N,N'-dimethylaminophenyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine. The synthesized complex was found to act as a selective fluorescent chemosensor for pyrophosphate P2O74- (PPi) over other anions like F-, Cl-, Br-, CO32-, SO32-, AcO-, NO2-, and H2PO4-. Furthermore, the receptor probe was also successfully employed in HeLa cell for PPi detection, which indicates this can be used as a chemosensor for cells.

Formation of a novel ferromagnetic end-to-end cyanate bridged homochiral helical copper(II) Schiff base complex via spontaneous symmetry breaking.

A homochiral helical coordination polymer of copper(II) has been synthesized using achiral precursors via spontaneous symmetry breaking and has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction and solid-state CD spectroscopy. The variable temperature magnetic measurements indicate the presence of weak ferromagnetic exchange interactions mediated by end-to-end cyanate bridges (J = +0.12 cm(-1)).

Synthesis, structure and photophysical properties of a highly luminescent terpyridine-diphenylacetylene hybrid fluorophore and its metal complexes.

A new fluorescent terpyridyl-diphenylacetylene hybrid fluorophore 4'-[4-{(4-methoxyphenyl)ethynyl}phenyl]-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, L, was synthesized via Sonogashira cross-coupling of 4'-(4-bromophenyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine and 4-ethynylanisole in the presence of Pd(PPh3)4/CuI as a catalyst. The solid state structure of L shows a trans arrangement of pyridine nitrogen atoms along the interannular bond in the terpyridine domain. Five transition metal complexes of L, {[FeL2](CF3SO3)2 (1), [ZnL2](ClO4)2 (2), [CdL2](ClO4)2 (3), [RuL2](PF6)2 (4), and PtMe3IL (5)}, have also been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray analysis. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes 1-3 show a distorted octahedral MN6 arrangement with tridentate coordination of the two terpyridine ligands, whereas in complex 5 the ligand L binds in a bidentate fashion. The ligand L displays bright blue emission in the solid state and in both non-polar and polar organic media. The fluorescence quantum yield of L is exceptionally high for a monoterpyridine ligand of its kind, which can be rationalized with density functional theory calculations. The electronic structure of L shows that the fluorescence involves intramolecular charge transfer from the diphenylacetylene moiety to the terpyridine group, and it is not affected by the usual non-radiative relaxation processes such as pyridine rotation. The Fe(II), Ru(II) and Pt(IV) complexes of L were found to be non-emissive, whereas both Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes displayed significant green emission attributed to intra-ligand charge transfer states. These results were supported by the observed red-shift of the emission maxima of complexes 2 and 3 with increasing the solvent polarity.

Transition metal ion induced hydrogelation by amino-terpyridine ligands.

Hydrogelation behavior of two amino-terpyridine ligands in the presence of divalent metal ions in water was studied in detail. The effect of ligand structure and different counter anions on the gel morphologies was also explored.

Nanomolar pyrophosphate detection in water and in a self-assembled hydrogel of a simple terpyridine-Zn2+ complex.

A simple terpyridine-Zn(II) complex is shown to act as an efficient and highly selective fluorescent sensor for pyrophosphate in water at physiological pH. The sensor complex showed an unprecedented fluorescence response (∼500 fold increase) and a record nanomolar sensitivity (detectable fluorescent response at 20 nM and LOD ∼ 0.8 nM). It has successfully been used to stain and record confocal fluorescence microscopy images of HeLa cells. Moreover, the complex was found to self-assemble into a hydrogel which was subsequently used to coat disposable paper strips for easy, low-cost detection of pyrophosphate.

A highly selective, Hg2+ triggered hydrogelation: modulation of morphology by chemical stimuli.

We report the first Hg(2+) selective hydrogelation by 4'-[4-(4-aminophenyl)phenyl]-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine. The gel showed remarkable response towards specific chemical agents such as benzo-18-crown-6 ether and K(+) which enabled extensive modulation of the gel morphology.