A turn-on fluorescence chemosensor based on a tripodal amine [tris(pyrrolyl-α-methyl)amine]-rhodamine conjugate for the selective detection of zinc ions.

A novel tetradendate ligand derived from a tris(pyrrolyl-α-methyl)amine (H3tpa) and rhodamine-based conjugate (PR) has been designed for use as a sensor, synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. PR {(tris(5-rhodamineiminopyrrol-2-ylmethyl)amine)} serves as a selective colorimetric as well as a fluorescent chemosensor for Zn(2+) in acetonitrile/water (1 : 1, v/v). In the presence of Zn(2+), PR exhibited obvious absorption (558 nm) and emission (577 nm) peaks whose intensity increased along with increasing Zn(2+) concentrations. Titration experiments revealed that a large excess of Zn(2+) was required to saturate the absorption (λmax) and emission intensities. Upon the addition of 1000 equivalents of Zn(2+), the fluorescence intensity of the PR underwent an ∼500-fold increase (Φf = 0.34) with the emission maximum at 580 nm. These kinetics studies demonstrated that the absorption and emission changes were proportional to the Zn(2+) concentration. The color of the solution changed from colorless to a dark pink color. The fluorescence of the PR-Zn(2+) complex can be reversibly restored by using ammonium water or by heating. Competitive ion tests revealed that the intensity of PR-Zn(2+) was not suppressed by excess amounts of other metal ions. The counter anions did not exert obvious influences on the absorption and emission profiles. (1)H-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopic investigations of PR and PR-Zn(2+) revealed that the pyrrole motifs, -C[double bond, length as m-dash]N- groups and spirolactam of rhodamine B are capable of coordinating cation guest species. Because each arm of the tripodal ligand tautomerizes independently, only moderate fluorescence enhancement could be seen until all three -C[double bond, length as m-dash]N- groups were coordinated by zinc, which may be due to the spirolactam ring opening mechanism of the rhodamine unit. Once all three -C[double bond, length as m-dash]N- groups were locked by coordinating with excess of Zn(2+), the isomerization was arrested, and PR exhibited highly enhanced fluorescence. In addition, energy optimized structures of PR were found to be cage-like by Gaussian 09, further supporting that it can access a large excess of Zn(2+). Intriguingly, imaging of HeLa cells by using a confocal microscope revealed that this PR probe could be used for biological applications.