Programmable photoresponsive materials based on a single molecule distinct topochemical reactions.

Engineering the preorganization of photoactive units remains a big challenge in solid-state photochemistry research. It is of not only theoretical importance in the construction of topochemical reactions but also technological significance in the fabrication of advanced materials. Here, a cyanostilbene derivative, ()-2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-(naphthalen-2-yl) acrylonitrile (BNA), was crystallized into two polymorphs under different conditions.

A cyanide-sensing detector in aqueous solution based on anion-π interaction-driven electron transfer.

A "turn on" fluorescent and colorimetric sensor, HAT(CN)6, was developed for the light-up detection of cyanide. It was implemented through its strong anion-π interaction, inducing thermal CN- → HAT(CN)6 electron transfer, to give the dianion product [HAT(CN)6]2-, which exhibits unexpected fluorescence. The sensor shows high selectivity, rapid response and a low detection limit towards CN- in aqueous solution, hence indicating its enormous potential in practical applications.

Multiple adaptation of constitutional dynamic networks and information storage in constitutional distributions of acylhydrazones.

We report a study of the behavior of four dynamic covalent libraries (DCLs) based on acylhydrazones and of the corresponding square constitutional dynamic networks (CDNs) under the effect of three agents, namely, metal cations, base + metal cations and light irradiation; in particular, the successful switching of the CDN between two orthogonal distributions results, respectively, from metallo-selection and photo-selection. The four DCLs undergo triple adaptation when subjected to the three agents with the generation of specific CDN distributions characteristic of each of the four DCLs. The ternary outputs displayed by the DCLs present three states (-1, 0 and 1) related to three different constitutional distributions expressed in response to the triple inputs applied.

Higher Order Constitutional Dynamic Networks: [2×3] and [3×3] Networks Displaying Multiple, Synergistic and Competitive Hierarchical Adaptation.

The present study investigates the constitutional dynamic networks (CDNs) underlying dynamic covalent libraries (DCLs) that extend beyond the [2×2] case toward higher orders, namely [2×3] and [3×3] CDNs involving respectively six and nine constituents generated from the recombination of five and six components linked through reversible chemical reactions. It explores the behavior of such systems under the action of one or two effectors. More specifically and for the sake of proof of principle, it makes use of DCLs involving dynamic organic ligands and analyzes their single and double adaptive response under the action of one and two metal cation effectors.

A novel cascade strategy with supramolecular and chemodosimetric methods for designing a fluorescent ratiometric detector hypersensitive to trace water.

An intensely fluorescent zinc-salicylideneimine complex (-Zn(II)) was developed as a fluorescent ratiometric detector for the quantitative determination of trace water contents both in THF and methanol. It works based on a water-triggered cascade process: the dissociation reaction of the supramolecular ensemble and the subsequent hydrolysis reaction of its ligand.

A highly selective fluorescent sensor for Al³⁺ and the use of the resulting complex as a secondary sensor for PPi in aqueous media: its applicability in live cell imaging.

An easy-to-make salicylimine (L) bearing an "O-N-O"-coordination site was used as a highly selective fluorescent sensor for Al(3+) and PPi in aqueous solution. Sensor L showed a significant fluorescence enhancement in the presence of Al(3+) over other competitive metal ions. It works based on the Al(3+)-induced formation of a 1 : 1 L-Al(3+) complex, producing a chelation-enhanced fluorescence effect, the fluorescence quantum yield reached 0.

A real-time fluorescent sensor specific to Mg2+: crystallographic evidence, DFT calculation and its use for quantitative determination of magnesium in drinking water.

An "off-the-shelf" fluorescence "turn-on" Mg(2+) chemosensor 3,5-dichlorosalicylaldehyde (BCSA) was rationally designed and developed. This proposed sensor works based on Mg(2+)-induced formation of the 2 : 1 BCSA-Mg(2+) complex. The coordination of BSCA to Mg(2+) increases its structural rigidity generating a chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect which was confirmed by single crystal XRD studies of the BSCA-Mg(2+) complex and TD/DFT calculations.

A dual channel optical detector for trace water chemodosimetry and imaging of live cells.

A novel 3-5-dichlorosalicylaldehyde Schiff base chemodosimeter (compound 1) for water is designed and synthesized, and it works based on a water-triggered reaction of a Schiff base. Addition of trace amounts of water into 1 in various organic solvents leads to a fluorescence turn-on response and a simultaneous dual-channel signal modulation (both in the fluorescence and absorption spectra). Especially, 1 is found to be an outstanding fluorescence enhancement water sensor in methanol with an extremely low detection limit of 22 ppm.