Ruilong Sheng

Colorimetric test kit for Cu2+ detection.

A coumarin-based colorimetric chemosensor 1 was designed and synthesized. It exhibits good sensitivity and selectivity for the copper cation over other cations such as Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+), Co(2+), Fe(2+), Ni(2+), Ag(+), and alkali and alkaline earth metal cations both in aqueous solution and on paper-made test kits. The change in color is very easily observed by the naked eye in the presence of Cu(2+) cation, whereas other metal cations do not induce such a change. The quantitative detection of Cu(2+) was preliminarily examined.

Reversible fluorescent probe for highly selective and sensitive detection of mercapto biomolecules.

A coumarin-derived complex, Hg(2)L(2), was reported as a highly sensitive and selective probe for the detection of mercapto biomolecules in aqueous solution. The addition of Cys to a 99% aqueous solution of Hg(2)L(2) resulted in rapid and remarkable fluorescence OFF-ON (emission at 525 nm) due to the ligand-exchange reaction of Cys with L coordinated to Hg(2+). The increased fluorescence can be completely quenched by Hg(2+) and recovered again by the subsequent addition of Cys. Such a fluorescence OFF-ON circle can be repeated at least 10 times by the alterative addition of Cys and Hg(2+) to the solution of Hg(2)L(2), indicating that it can be used as a convertible and reversible probe for the detection of Cys. The interconversion of Hg(2)L(2) and L via the decomplexation/complexation by the modulation of Cys/Hg(2+) was definitely verified from their crystal structures. Other competitive amino acids without a thiol group cannot induce any fluorescence changes, implying that Hg(2)L(2) can selectively determine mercapto biomolecules. Using confocal fluorescence imaging, L/Hg(2)L(2) as a pair of reversible probes can be further applied to track and monitor the self-detoxification process of Hg(2+) ions in SYS5 cells.

Radical-mediated divergent cyclization of benzamides toward perfluorinated or cyanated isoquinolinediones

A simple and efficient copper-controlled divergent cyclization of benzamides, which leads to perfluorinated or cyanated isoquinolinediones, is developed. In the presence of AIBN, methacryloyl benzamides with perfluoroalkyl iodides undergo cascade radical addition/cyclization to afford perfluoroinated isoquinolinediones as the major product under metal-free conditions, whereas the use of CuI (10 mol%) is able to redirect the cyclization to yield isoquinolinediones bearing an α-cyano quaternary carbon center. The cyclization features controllable divergent synthesis and a broad substrate scope as well as highly practical reaction conditions, thereby making this strategy a highly attractive means to fluorinate or cyanate isoquinolinediones.

Enzyme sensing based on a controllable oxidation reaction

We developed a new method for glutathione reductase (GR) enzyme sensing via a metal-controlled spontaneous oxidation reaction. A new complex HgL, composed of 3-benzothiazoliny-7-N,N-diethylaminocoumarin (L) and HgCl2, was used as an example for illustration. It was found that ligand L was released from complex HgL by a ligand exchange process in the presence of GSH, which was enzymatic reduced from GSSG in the presence of NADH. Subsequently, free ligand L was spontaneously oxidated to a laser dye (coumarin-6) with both fluorescence enhancement and color change. A good linear relationship between fluorescent intensity and GSH concentrations (in the range of 10-40 μM) elicits the potential use of HgL in GSH detection. Based on this result, complex HgL was applied to identify GR from other proteins/enzymes with good selectivity and sensitivity. HgL can also determine GR in the concentration range from 0.5 to 10 U/mL with a linear relationship. Furthermore, this novel sensing method was also expected to be a useful example for the design of other biosensing systems.