Illia E. Serdiuk

Tautomerism and behavior of 3-hydroxy-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-ones (flavonols) and 3,7-dihydroxy-2,8-diphenyl-4H,6H-pyrano[3,2-g]chromene-4,6-diones (diflavonols) in basic media: spectroscopic and computational investigations.

Absorption and emission spectroscopic investigations and computational predictions have shown that neutral molecules of flavonols and diflavonols can exist in the ground and excited states in one or two tautomeric forms stabilized by intramolecular (in aprotic media) or intermolecular (with solvent molecule(s), in protic media) hydrogen bonds. Electronic excitation creates conditions for the transformation of tautomeric forms, accompanied by proton transfer, reflected in fluorescence spectra. Proton transfer is also probable in monoanions of diflavonols in protic media. The OH groups involved in hydrogen bonds exhibit a proton-donating ability characterized by the respective acidity constants. The electronically excited diflavonols are relatively strong acids if they lose one proton. With increasing basicity of the medium, anionic forms occur, which exhibit spectral characteristics and emission abilities different from those of neutral molecules. These features open up possibilities for the analytical use of these compounds as spectral probes sensitive to the properties of liquid phases--from neutral to strongly basic. The less intensively studied diflavonols seem to be more promising than flavonols for these purposes, since they are more lipophilic, polarizable, polar, and sensitive to basic features of the environment.

Flavonol-based fluorescent indicator for determination of β-glucosidase activity

A novel fluorescent probe, based on the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) phenomenon, for evaluation of β-glucosidase activity was designed. The synthesis of the probe was optimized. The conditions for the monitoring of enzymatic cleavage of the probe were developed and discussed from the point of view of reaction kinetics and simplicity of the method.

2-(4-Hy-droxy-phen-yl)-3-meth-oxy-4H-chromen-4-one.

In the title compound, C16H12O4, the substituent benzene ring and methoxy group are twisted relative to the 4H-chromene skeleton by 24.1 (1) and 61.3 (1)°, respectively. In the crystal, molecules are connected by classical O—H⋯O and weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains parallel to [201]. The 4H-chromene ring systems of adjacent molecules are either parallel or inclined at an angle of 28.9 (1)°.

Single and double intramolecular proton transfers in the electronically excited state of flavone derivatives

In an attempt to create a flavone derivative able to take part in Excited State Intramolecular Double Proton Transfer (ESIDPT), we synthesized two carbonyl derivatives of 3,7-dihydroxyflavone, both containing two different proton-transfer sites as well as related carbonyl derivatives of 3-hydroxyflavone and 7-hydroxyflavone. All the examined hydroxyflavones were found to participate in the Excited State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT). ESIPT which involves 3-hydroxyl and 4-carbonyl groups was found to have a higher barrier compared to ESIPT involving 7-hydroxyl and 6/8-carbonyl fragments. According to the data presented, 3,7-dihydroxy-2-phenyl-6-(3-phenylpropanoyl)-4H-chromen-4-one undergoes a two-stage ESIDPT with formation of an intermediate tautomer. This kind of ESIDPT leads to a tautomeric form with an abnormally low rate of radiative deactivation of the excited state, which conditions low fluorescence quantum yield. The behavior of 3,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-2-phenyl-4H-chromene-8-carbaldehyde in the electronically excited state is similar to 3-hydroxyflavone derivatives, thus we conclude the occurrence of a single ESIPT in this compound.

A novel chemiluminescent immunoassay for detection of Toxoplasma gondii IgG in human sera

This study describes Toxoplasma gondii IgG chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) based on the use of a novel immunochemical reagents in the form of the conjugates of original acridinium ester (AE) labels attached to antibodies and SAG2-GRA1-ROP1L chimeric antigen and shows that this test is useful for diagnostic purposes.

7-hydroxyflavone revisited: spectral, acid-base properties, and interplay of the protolytic forms in the ground and excited states.

Spectral and acid-base properties of 7-hydroxyflavone (7HF) in the ground and excited states were investigated with a purpose to enable reasonable application of this dye and its derivatives as fluorescent probes. Analysis of solvatochromic and solvatofluorochromic ability of 7HF in 20 solvents, investigations of 7HF spectral properties in the frozen solvents, spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric titrations in methanol-water (4:1 v/v) in the wide pH/H0 range (from pH = 11.0 to H0 = -4.5), analysis of the 3D fluorescence and time-resolved spectra, as well as quantum-chemical calculations were carried out. It has been found that 7HF can exist in three protolythic forms-neutral, anion, and cation-depending on the environment acidity or basicity. In the excited state, in methanol-water solutions, there are four forms: neutral, cation and anion, which can be formed by direct excitation of the ground-state anion or by photodissociation of the neutral form depending on pH, and only one phototautomer, which appears in the H0 range from 1.3 to -4.5. It has been shown that the mechanism of the phototautomer formation depends on medium acidity. The photoautomer can be formed by cation photodissociation as well as by photoanion protonation. Finally, it was concluded which of the 7HF protolytic forms can be used for fluorescent probing.

Structure, formation, thermodynamics and interactions in 9-carboxy-10-methylacridinium-based molecular systems

9-Carboxy-10-methylacridinium chloride and trifluoromethanesulfonate, the parent compounds for a wide range of chemiluminogenic salts of practical importance, were synthesized and thoroughly investigated to address problems concerning structural and thermodynamical issues of these cognitively interesting molecular systems. Under various conditions of crystallization, the title salts disclosed three types of crystals: one built from the monomeric form of cations and two containing homoconjugated cations. The title compounds made the first described derivatives of acridine, expressing homoconjugated cationic forms, both in crystalline solid and gaseous phases. The monocrystals were characterized, employing X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic methods such as MALDI-TOF MS, ESI-QTOF MS, NMR and UV-Vis. X-ray crystallography studies revealed the occurrence of the three different molecular architectures, in which not only the counter ions and stoichiometry are different, but also the space group and number of molecules in the unit cell. The energetics and intermolecular interactions occurring within the crystals were explored, applying crystal lattice energy calculations and Hirshfeld surface analysis. In order to elucidate the thermodynamics and origin of the experimentally revealed forms, computations based on the density functional theory were performed, assuming vapour and liquid phases.

Origin of Spectral Features and Acid–Base Properties of 3,7-Dihydroxyflavone and Its Monofunctional Derivatives in the Ground and Excited States

Comprehensive spectral investigations of 3,7-dihydroxyflavone and its two derivatives, which each contain a methyl-blocked hydroxyl group, reveal complex radiation absorption in the 300-450 nm range and emission in the 370-650 nm range. The absorption and fluorescence characteristics of these compounds depend on the pH/H0 of the water/methanol media, which is caused by the existence of the compounds in various protolytic (cationic, neutral, anionic) and tautomeric forms. Combined analysis of steady-state, time-dependent and fluorescence decay spectral data enabled the identification of the emitting species, determination of their lifetimes with respect to radiative and nonradiative deactivation processes, fluorescence quantum yields, protolytic and tautomeric abilities under various conditions, and acidic dissociation constants of the cationic, neutral, and anionic forms of the compounds. Results of calculations carried out at the DFT and TD DFT levels of theory generally confirmed the experimental findings concerning tautomeric/protolytic transformations and equilibria. Computational methods also provided insight into possible tautomerization pathways. Electronically excited molecules are generally much more susceptible to tautomerization and acidic dissociation than ground-state ones. 3,7-Dihydroxyflavone exhibits distinguishable features among the compounds investigated and can be considered as potential spectral indicator of properties (polarity, hydrophobicity, hydrogen-bonding ability) and acidity/basicity of liquid environments.

5-Selenocyanato and 5-trifluoromethanesulfonyl derivatives of 2′-deoxyuridine: synthesis, radiation and computational chemistry as well as cytotoxicity

5-Selenocyanato-2′-deoxyuridine (SeCNdU) and 5-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-2′-deoxyuridine (OTfdU) have been synthesized and their structures have been confirmed with NMR and MS methods. Both compounds undergo dissociative electron attachment (DEA) when irradiated with X-rays in an aqueous solution containing a hydroxyl radical scavenger. The DEA yield of SeCNdU significantly exceeds that of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU), remaining in good agreement with the computationally revealed profile of electron-induced degradation. The radiolysis products indicate, in line with theoretical predictions, Se–CN bond dissociation as the main reaction channel. On the other hand, the DEA yield for OTfdU is slightly lower than the degradation yield measured for BrdU, despite the fact that the calculated driving force for the electron-induced OTfdU dissociation substantially overpasses the thermodynamic stimulus for BrdU degradation. Moreover, the calculated DEA profile suggests that the electron attachment induced formation of 5-hydroxy-2′-deoxyuridine (OHdU) from OTfdU, while 2′-deoxyuridine (dU) is mainly observed experimentally. We explained this discrepancy in terms of the increased acidity of OTfdU resulting in efficient deprotonation of the N3 atom, which brings about the domination of the OTfdU(N3–H)− anion in the equilibrium mixture. As a consequence, electron addition chiefly leads to the radical dianion, OTfdU(N3–H)˙2−, which easily protonates at the C5 site. As a result, the C5–O rather than O–S bond undergoes dissociation, leading to dU, observed experimentally. A negligible cytotoxicity of the studied compounds toward the MCF-7 cell line at the concentrations used for cell labelling calls for further studies aiming at the clinical use of the proposed derivatives.

A novel chemiluminescent immunoassay based on original acridinium ester labels as better solution for diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis than conventional ELISA test

Toxoplasma gondii infection is one of the most common human zoonosis. Laboratory diagnosis of this disease is mainly based on the results of serological methods detecting specific antibodies in the patients sera. In this study we aimed to evaluate the performance of a chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) based on the use of a novel immunochemical reagent in the form of the conjugate of original acridinium label (AL) attached to secondary antibody (IgG-AL) and SAG2-GRA1-ROP1L chimeric antigen for T. gondii specific antibodies detection. The CLIA test was compared with conventional ELISA, which was based on the same recombinant antigen and differed only in terms of the detection methodology of immune complexes. The new CLIA assay proved to be more sensitive and better differentiated sera of patients with T. gondii infection from sera of healthy individuals, being a promising alternative to more labor, cost-demanding and less versatile ELISA as screening test in toxoplasmosis diagnostics.