Photo-induced cation translocation in a molecular shuttle based on a calix[4]-biscrown including DCM and DMABN chromophores.

We present a new molecular shuttle, consisting of a calixarene core attached to two different photoactive centers, DCM and DMABN. We show that a K(+) ion bound to the DCM-grafted crown is translocated towards the other site of the molecule upon photoexcitation, but not released to the bulk.

Methods for the analysis of complex fluorescence decays: sum of Becquerel functions versus sum of exponentials.

Ensemble fluorescence decays are usually analyzed with a sum of exponentials. However, broad continuous distributions of lifetimes, either unimodal or multimodal, occur in many situations. A simple and flexible fitting function for these cases that encompasses the exponential is the Becquerel function. In this work, the applicability of the Becquerel function for the analysis of complex decays of several kinds is tested. For this purpose, decays of mixtures of four different fluorescence standards (binary, ternary and quaternary mixtures) are measured and analyzed. For binary and ternary mixtures, the expected sum of narrow distributions is well recovered from the Becquerel functions analysis, if the correct number of components is used. For ternary mixtures, however, satisfactory fits are also obtained with a number of Becquerel functions smaller than the true number of fluorophores in the mixture, at the expense of broadening the lifetime distributions of the fictitious components. The quaternary mixture studied is well fitted with both a sum of three exponentials and a sum of two Becquerel functions, showing the inevitable loss of information when the number of components is large. Decays of a fluorophore in a heterogeneous environment, known to be represented by unimodal and broad continuous distributions (as previously obtained by the maximum entropy method), are also measured and analyzed. It is concluded that these distributions can be recovered by the Becquerel function method with an accuracy similar to that of the much more complex maximum entropy method. It is also shown that the polar (or phasor) plot is not always helpful for ascertaining the degree (and kind) of complexity of a fluorescence decay.

Norbadione a: kinetics and thermodynamics of cesium uptake in aqueous and alcoholic media.

Norbadione A (NbA) is a mushroom pigment, which is assumed to be involved in (137)Cs accumulation all over Europe during the Chernobyl nuclear accident. NbA bears seven acid-base functional groups, among which are two enolic and two carboxylic acid moieties. This work deals with complex formation of Cs(+) and NbA in ethanol, ethanol/water (9:1) (M1), and water with, when required, the support of two Cs(+) ionophore probes, calix[4]arene-bis(crown-6-ether)dioxycoumarine (A1) and its tetrasuslfonated form (A2). In ethanol, two Cs(+) complexes are formed, with the affinity constants K(1EtOH) = (1.1 ± 0.25) × 10(5) and K(2EtOH) = (2.1 ± 0.4) × 10(3). In M1, a single Cs(+) complex occurs when only the enols are deprotonated, whereas a bicomplex is formed when both enols and carboxylic acids are deprotonated: K(1M1) = (1.5 ± 0.3) × 10(5) and K(2M1) = (4 ± 2) × 10(3). These data are confirmed by stopped-flow and T-jump kinetics. In ethanol, a fast Cs(+) exchange occurs between NbA and A1: direct rate constant, k(1) = (3.1 ± 0.1) × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1); reverse rate constant k(-1) = (2.8 ± 1) × 10(5) M(-1) s(-1); and Cs(+) exchange constant, K(1Exchange) = (9 ± 4) × 10(-3). In M1, the quenching of A2 fluorescence by NbA is used to determine the kinetics of complex formation with Cs(+): k(2) = (1.8 ± 0.4) × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1); k(-2) = (1.80 ± 0.15) × 10(4) s(-1); and K(1M1) = (1.5 ± 0.5) × 10(5). The affinity of NbA for Cs(+) is probably the result of the particular structure in which the two pulvinic acid arms adopt a conformation that forms two complexation sites composed of the two enolates and/or the two carboxylates. This renders the efficiency in Cs(+) uptake comparable to that of some calixarenes or crown ethers.

Photoinduced cation translocation in a calix[4]biscrown: towards a new type of light-driven molecular shuttle.

The photophysics of a ditopic receptor of potassium ion consisting of a 1,3-alternate calix[4]biscrown with a merocyanine dye (DCM) inserted into each crown is reported. Thanks to the large difference between the binding affinity for one and two potassium ions, one can find relative total concentrations of ligand and potassium ion at which the 1:1 complex is most predominant with respect to the free ligand and the 2:1 complex whose amounts are a few percents. Investigation of the 1:1 complex by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy provides evidence for the ultrafast movement of a potassium ion through the calix[4]arene tube upon excitation at 400 nm of the dye. Phototranslocation occurs in the picosecond timescale with a non-exponential kinetics without competition with photoejection towards the bulk. The translocation time includes two main short components: 0.83 ps and 10 ps. A smaller-weighted third component of 101 ps might include a competition between phototranslocation and excitation energy transfer as shown by using Förster's theory. These findings open the way to new strategies for light-driven molecular shuttles with the aim of information storage and binary logic computing at a nanometric scale.

Kinetics, thermodynamics, and modeling of complex formation between calix[4]biscrowns and cesium.

Complex formations between calix[4]arene-bis(crown-6-ether) calix-COU2 (A1) and the tetrasulfonated species calix-COUSULF (A2) with Cs(+) are investigated in water and ethanol, and in 9:1 (M1) and 1:9 (M2) H(2)O/EtOH v:v mixtures, by chemical relaxation and molecular modeling. In ethanol and M2, two Cs(+) are included in A1 in two kinetic steps, whereas complex formation in M1 becomes controlled by a slow first-order kinetic process, which is accompanied by very fast Cs(+) inclusions, second-order rate constant: k'(1) = (3.4 +/- 0.8) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). In water and M1, A2 forms 1:1 and 1:2 cesium complexes in a single kinetic step, whereas in M2, two Cs(+) are included in two kinetic steps. The rate and thermodynamic constants involved are reported. They show that the second-order rate constants increase with the ethanol-to-water ratio, e.g., A2, second-order rate constant for the first Cs(+) in water: k(1A2water) = (9.7 +/- 0.3) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) and in M2: k(1A2M2) = (6.3 +/- 0.4) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). The affinities of both A1 and A2 for Cs(+) also increase with the ethanol-to-water ratio, e.g., first inclusion of A1 in M1: K(1A1M1) = (5 +/- 1.3) x 10(3) and in ethanol: K(1A1EtOH) = (7 +/- 3) x 10(6). The deviation from the expected mechanism of complex formation with alkali is attributed to the comparatively more difficult access of Cs(+) to the inclusion cavity of the capped calixarene. An analysis of calix-COU2 and calix-COUSULF and their Cs(+) complexes with only one rim capped by the crown ether confirms the thermodynamic and kinetic results, by showing that the inclusion cavity of calix-COUSULF is more adapted to Cs(+) than that of calix-COU2. This added to the presence of the shielding effect of the negative sulfonates can explain that the affinity of calix-COUSULF for Cs(+) is higher than that of calix-COU2. These results can be of interest in the search of an efficient Cs(+) decontaminant.

Multichromophoric supramolecular systems. Recovery of the distributions of decay times from the fluorescence decays.

The fluorescence decays of a tetrachromophoric calix[4]arene and a heptachromophoric cyclodextrin with appended pyridin-2'-yl-1,2,3-triazole groups, and their complexes with the cadmium ion, are analyzed with a sum of compressed hyperbola. Such functions are shown to be well suited for the recovery of the underlying distributions of decay times. The heterogeneity of the micro-environments experienced by the chromophores, and/or their mutual interactions in the excited state can in this way be displayed graphically. A fit with a sum of four exponentials is also found to be satisfactory, but the respective parameters lack direct physical meaning.

Femtosecond to subnanosecond multistep calcium photoejection from a crown ether-linked merocyanine.

Photoinduced calcium release from the crown ether-linked merocyanine DCM-crown is reexamined by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy with sub-100 fs time resolution. Photodisruption of the bond linking the cation to the nitrogen atom shared by the crown and the chromophore is found to take place in 130 fs. Confirming our previous reports, the photoinduced intraligand charge transfer is observed in the picosecond regime but kinetics involving three-components (1 ps, 8 ps and 77 ps), together with a 56 ps stimulated-emission time-resolved red shift, are found in the present study. Both delayed intraligand charge transfer and cation release are assumed to occur in this time range due to repulsion effects between the positively charged nitrogen of the crown ether moiety and the cation. In the subnanosecond regime, a 670 ps time-resolved red shift of the stimulated-emission spectrum of the charge-transfer state, similar to the shift previously observed with Sr(2+), demonstrates the motion of the cation away from the crown to the bulk. A thorough examination of the present data allows us to conclude that calcium ion is photoejected to the bulk in a multistep process.

Pitfalls and limitations in the practical use of Förster's theory of resonance energy transfer.

Disparate presentations in the literature of the basic equations of Förster's theory of resonance energy transfer are clarified and the limitations of these equations are discussed.

Photophysics of cyclic multichromophoric systems based on beta-cyclodextrin and calix[4]arene with appended pyridin-2'-yl-1,2,3-triazole groups.

The photophysical properties of the new pyridin-2'-yl-1,2,3-triazole chromophore have been investigated. Spectroscopic experiments and molecular modelling have provided evidence for a photoinduced charge transfer occurring from the triazole group to the pyridine ring. Hepta- and tetrachromophoric systems have been synthesized by covalently linking seven or four chromophores of this kind, respectively, to a beta-cyclodextrin and a calix[4]arene. They exhibit different fluorescence spectra, decays and quantum yields. Special attention has been paid to the binding of cadmium and zinc ions and to the resulting photophysical effects which are various and very different for the grafted beta-cyclodextrin and calix[4]arene systems.

Rhod-5N as a fluorescent molecular sensor of cadmium(II) ion.

The photophysical and complexing properties of Rhod-5N (commercially available) in MOPS buffer are reported. This fluorescent molecular sensor consists of a BAPTA chelating moiety bound to a rhodamine fluorophore. Its fluorescence quantum yield is low and a drastic enhancement of fluorescence intensity upon cation binding was observed. Special attention was paid to the complexation with Cd2+, a well known toxic metal ion. Possible interference with other metal ions (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Pb2+) was examined. Rhod-5N was found to be highly selective of Cd2+ over those interfering cations except Pb2+. The limit of detection is 3.1 microg l(-1).

A novel microfluidic flow-injection analysis device with fluorescence detection for cation sensing. Application to potassium.

A microfabricated device has been developed for fluorimetric detection of potassium ions without previous separation. It is based on use of a fluorescent molecular sensor, calix-bodipy, specially designed to be sensitive to and selective for the target ion. The device is essentially made of a Y-shape microchannel moulded in PDMS fixed on a glass substrate. A passive mixer is used for mixing the reactant and the analyte. The optical detection arrangement uses two optical fibres, one for excitation by a light-emitting diode, the other for collection of the fluorescence. This system enabled the flow-injection analysis of the concentration of potassium ions in aqueous solutions with a detection limit of 0.5 mmol L(-1) and without interference with sodium ions. A calibration plot was constructed using potassium standard solutions in the range 0-16 mmol L(-1), and was used for the determination of the potassium content of a pharmaceutical pill. Figure Photography of the microfluidic channel showing the ridges in the PDMS substrate at the top of the channel.

Fluorescence lifetime standards for time and frequency domain fluorescence spectroscopy.

A series of fluorophores with single-exponential fluorescence decays in liquid solution at 20 degrees C were measured independently by nine laboratories using single-photon timing and multifrequency phase and modulation fluorometry instruments with lasers as excitation source. The dyes that can serve as fluorescence lifetime standards for time-domain and frequency-domain measurements are all commercially available, are photostable under the conditions of the measurements, and are soluble in solvents of spectroscopic quality (methanol, cyclohexane, water). These lifetime standards are anthracene, 9-cyanoanthracene, 9,10-diphenylanthracene, N-methylcarbazole, coumarin 153, erythrosin B, N-acetyl-l-tryptophanamide, 1,4-bis(5-phenyloxazol-2-yl)benzene, 2,5-diphenyloxazole, rhodamine B, rubrene, N-(3-sulfopropyl)acridinium, and 1,4-diphenylbenzene. At 20 degrees C, the fluorescence lifetimes vary from 89 ps to 31.2 ns, depending on fluorescent dye and solvent, which is a useful range for modern pico- and nanosecond time-domain or mega- to gigahertz frequency-domain instrumentation. The decay times are independent of the excitation and emission wavelengths. Dependent on the structure of the dye and the solvent, the excitation wavelengths used range from 284 to 575 nm, the emission from 330 to 630 nm. These lifetime standards may be used to either calibrate or test the resolution of time- and frequency-domain instrumentation or as reference compounds to eliminate the color effect in photomultiplier tubes. Statistical analyses by means of two-sample charts indicate that there is no laboratory bias in the lifetime determinations. Moreover, statistical tests show that there is an excellent correlation between the lifetimes estimated by the time-domain and frequency-domain fluorometries. Comprehensive tables compiling the results for 20 (fluorescence lifetime standard/solvent) combinations are given.

Selective detection of cesium by a water-soluble fluorescent molecular sensor based on a calix[4]arene-bis(crown-6-ether).

A tetrasulfonated calixarene with two appended crowns, each including a dioxycoumarin fluorophore, is highly soluble in water and shows excellent selectivity for cesium ions.

Photophysics of a series of efficient fluorescent pH probes for dual-emission-wavelength measurements in aqueous solutions.

This paper evaluates the 5-aryl-2-pyridyloxazole backbone to engineer donor-acceptor fluorescent pH probes after one- or two-photon absorption. Parent fluorophores, as well as derivatives that can be used to label biomolecules, can be easily obtained in good yields. These molecules exhibit a large one-photon absorption in the near-UV range, and a strong fluorescence emission that covers the whole visible domain. The 5-aryl-2-pyridyloxazole derivatives also possess significant cross sections for two-photon absorption. Upon pyridine protonation, large shifts were observed in the absorption spectra after one- and two-photon excitation, as well as in the emission spectra. This feature was used to measure the pK(a) of the investigated compounds that range between 2 and 8. In most of the investigated derivatives, the pK(a) increased upon light excitation and protonation exchanges took place during the lifetime of the excited state, as shown by phase-modulation fluorometry analysis. Several 5-aryl-2-pyridyloxazole derivatives are suggested as efficient probes to reliably measure the pH of aqueous solutions by means of ratiometric methods that are dependent on fluorescence emission.

Pitfalls and their remedies in time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy.

Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy in both time and frequency domains provide very useful and accurate information on dynamic processes. Good quality data are essential in obtaining reliable parameter estimates. Distortions of the fluorescence response due to artifacts may have disastrous consequences. We provide here a concise overview of potential difficulties encountered under daily laboratory circumstances in the use of time- and frequency-domain equipment as well as practical remedies against common error conditions, elucidated with several graphs to aid the researcher in visual inspection and quality-control of collected data. A range of artifacts due to sample preparation or to optical and electronic pitfalls are discussed, as are remedies against them. Also recommended data analysis strategies are described.

Photodynamics of excitation energy transfer in self-assembled dyads. Evidence for back transfer.

Three self-assembled photonic dyads comprising a zinc porphyrin donor and a free base acceptor have been studied by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The driving force of the assembly is the site selective binding of an imidazole connected to a free base porphyrin. Three spacers have been incorporated between the imidazole connector and the free base porphyrin, providing three different distances separating the donor and the acceptor. The high efficiencies and the rates of energy transfer in the set of dyads is consistent with the Forster energy transfer mechanism. Evidence for Forster back transfer has been obtained, and its efficiency and rate have been quantitatively evaluated for the first time.

Photophysics of Calix[4]biscrown-based ditopic receptors of caesium containing one or two dioxocoumarin fluorophores.

The ditopic receptors Calix-COU1 and Calix-COU2 consist of a calix[4]biscrown containing one or two dioxycoumarin fluorophores, respectively, inserted into the crown. They can form 1:1 and 2:1 (metal:ligand) complexes with caesium ions. The photophysical properties of the 1:1 complexes can be explained by (i) cation tunneling through the tube-shaped cavity (composed of the four phenyl rings) of the calix[4]biscrown, (ii) photodisruption of the interaction between the bound cation and the oxygen atoms belonging to both the coumarin moiety and the crown, (iii) photoinduced motions of the cation.

Lead and mercury sensing by calixarene-based fluoroionophores bearing two or four dansyl fluorophores.

A detailed study on the photophysical and complexing properties of calixarenes bearing two and four dansyl derivatives (Calix-DANS2 and Calix-DANS4) in a CH3CN/H2O mixture (60:40 v/v) is reported. Calix-DANS2 shows a high selectivity towards Hg2+ over interfering cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+) and a sensitivity in the 10(-7) mol L(-1) concentration range. The complexation of mercury ion induces a strong fluorescence quenching due to a well-defined electron transfer process from the fluorophore to the metal center. Calix-DANS4 exhibits an extremely high affinity for Pb2+ with a high selectivity over various competing ions. The unprecedented detection limit (4 microg L(-1)) is fully compatible with the level defined by the World Health Organisation. The affinity of Calix-DANS4 for Pb2+ can be rationalized by the activation of the inert pair of electrons on Pb2+. The number of fluorophores involved in the complexation can be determined from a careful time-resolved fluorescence characterization.

Photophysics of calixarenes bearing two or four dansyl fluorophores: charge, proton and energy transfers.

The photophysical properties of calixarenes bearing two and four dansyl derivatives (Calix-DANS2 and Calix-DANS4) were investigated in a CH(3)CN/H(2)O mixture (60 : 40 v/v). The carboxydansyl (DANS1) was used as a reference compound. The pH titration of DANS1 permits determination of two pK(A) values (2.4 and 6.3). The charge-transfer character of this type of fluorophore is discussed. The protonated dansyl group LH(2)(+) undergoes photoinduced proton transfer. The photophysical characterization (absorption spectra, emission spectra, quantum yield and fluorescence decays) of Calix-DANS2 and Calix-DANS4 showed that nonradiative energy transfer occurs from a dansyl fluorophore in the basic form to another one in the neutral form. The transfer efficiencies are 0.1 and 0.5 for Calix-DANS2 and Calix-DANS4, respectively. Fluorescence data analysis allowed us to determine the fractions of dansyl fluorophores in the basic and neutral forms.

A highly sensitive and selective fluorescent molecular sensor for Pb(II) based on a calix[4]arene bearing four dansyl groups.

A new fluorescent molecular sensor based on a calix[4]arene bearing four dansyl groups exhibits very efficient binding in acetonitrile-water for lead and the changes of emission properties allows a detection limit of 4 microg L(-1).