Release Time:2019-03-11  Hits:

Indexed by: Journal Article

Date of Publication: 2017-09-21

Journal: CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL

Included Journals: PubMed、EI、SCIE、Scopus

Volume: 23

Issue: 53

Page Number: 13067-13075

ISSN: 0947-6539

Key Words: aggregation-induced emission; bioimaging; fluorophores; sensors; zinc

Abstract: Two novel organic fluorophores, containing bis-naphthylamide and quinoline motifs, have been designed and synthesized. One of the fluorophores contains an isobutylene unit and exhibits a significant aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and a remarkable highly selective ratiometric fluorescence response towards Zn2+ in solution as well as in human liver cancer cells. The AIE behavior of this fluorophore was fully verified by fluorescence and UV/Vis spectroscopy, quantum yield calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which revealed an intricate crystal packing system. Conversely, a fluorophore that lacks the isobutylene moiety did not exhibit any significant fluorescent properties as a result of its more flexible molecular structure that presumably allows free intramolecular rotational processes to occur.