A novel fluorescence “on–off–on” chemosensor for Hg²⁺ via a water-assistant blocking heavy atom effect

Wu, Chong; Zhao, Jiang-Lin; Jiang, Xue-Kai; Wang, Chuan-Zeng; Ni, Xin-Long; Zeng, Xi; Redshaw, Carl; Yamato, Takehiko

Abstract

Upper rim pyrene-functionalized hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene L was synthesized via Click chemistry, and its fluorescence behaviors toward several common metal cations were investigated. L exhibited a significant fluorescence quenching response to Hg²⁺ in CH₃CN solution, which was unaffected by the coexistence of other competitive metal cations. Thus, L can be utilized as a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent chemosensor for Hg²⁺ with a detection limit in the nM level. Interestingly, the quenched fluorescence emission can be successfully revived upon the addition of water. In this process, the heavy atom effect of Hg²⁺ can be blocked by further coordination of a water molecule and resulted in the revival of the fluorescence emission of L/Hg²⁺ complex. Particularly, other polar solvents such as CH₃OH and CH₃CH₂OH also have the ability to revive the fluorescence emission of the L/Hg²⁺ complex, but on a much smaller scale than observed for H₂O. The heavy atom effect and blocking thereof were demonstrated within the same system by the use of a C₃-symmetric homooxacalix[3]arene scaffold. The present studies provided further evidence for the blocking heavy atom effect.

Citation

Wu, C., Zhao, J., Jiang, X., Wang, C., Ni, X., Zeng, X., …Yamato, T. (2016). A novel fluorescence “on–off–on” chemosensor for Hg²⁺ via a water-assistant blocking heavy atom effect. Dalton Transactions : an international journal of inorganic chemistry, 45(38), 14948-14953. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6dt02274j

• Acceptance Date: Aug 16, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 17, 2016
• Publication Date: Aug 17, 2016
• Deposit Date: Aug 23, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 23, 2016
• Journal: Dalton transactions
• Print ISSN: 1477-9226
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-9234
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 38
• Pages: 14948-14953
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c6dt02274j
• Keywords: Fluorescence, Heavy atom effect, Chemosensor, L/Hg²⁺ complex
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/442453
• Publisher URL: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2016/DT/C6DT02274J#!divAbstract
• Additional Information: : This document is Similarity Check deposited; : Supplementary Information; : The Royal Society of Chemistry has an exclusive publication licence for this journal; : Single-blind; : Received 8 June 2016; Accepted 16 August 2016; Accepted Manuscript published 17 August 2016; Advance Article published 23 August 2016; Version of Record published 27 September 2016