Isoquinoline-based tetradentate ligands with C(3)-symmetry, tris(1- or 3-isoquinolylmethyl)amine (1- or 3-isoTQA), have been prepared and their zinc-induced fluorescence enhancement was investigated. Upon excitation at 324 nm, 1-isoTQA shows very weak fluorescence (ϕ = ∼0.003) in DMF/H(2)O (1/1) solution. In the presence of zinc ion, 1-isoTQA exhibits fluorescence increase (ϕ = 0.041) at 359 and 470 nm. This fluorescence enhancement at 470 nm is specific for zinc. However, 3-isoTQA exhibited a smaller fluorescence enhancement upon zinc complexation (ϕ = 0.017, λ(em) = 360 and 464 nm) compared with 1-isoTQA. Crystal structures of zinc complexes of isoTQAs demonstrate the diminished steric crowding and shorter Zn-N(aromatic) distances compared with isoTQENs (N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(isoquinolylmethyl)ethylenediamines) leads to a higher fluorescent response toward zinc relative to cadmium.

Previously, we have reported that 1- and 3-isoTQENs (N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(1- or 3-isoquinolylmethyl)ethylenediamines) exhibit a specific fluorescence enhancement toward zinc ion. In this study, three methoxy-substituted derivatives of 1-isoTQEN were synthesized and their fluorescent response toward zinc ion was studied. The substitution pattern of the methoxy group significantly changes the solubility of compounds in aqueous DMF, λ(max) in the absorption spectra, excitation/emission wavelengths and fluorescence intensity of zinc complexes. In the presence of zinc ion, 7-MeO-1-isoTQEN exhibits higher fluorescence intensity and longer excitation/emission wavelengths (λ(ex) = 342 nm, λ(em) = 526 nm) than 6-MeO-1-isoTQEN (λ(ex) = 303 nm, λ(em) = 469 nm) and 5,6,7-triMeO-1-isoTQEN (λ(ex) = 340 nm, λ(em) = 504 nm). The fluorescence intensity of a zinc complex of 7-MeO-1-isoTQEN (ϕ = 0.122) is four times higher than the parent 1-isoTQEN (ϕ = 0.034) under the same conditions. The crystal structure of 7-MeO-1-isoTQEN-Zn complex reveals that all six nitrogen atoms participate to the metal coordination with ideal octahedral geometry, affording significantly high metal binding affinity comparable with TPEN (N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine). 7-MeO-1-isoTQEN detects zinc ion concentration change in cells by fluorescence microscopic analysis.

Tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-based fluorescent ligands, N,N-bis(1-isoquinolylmethyl)-2-pyridylmethylamine (1-isoBQPA) and N,N-bis(7-methoxy-1-isoquinolylmethyl)-2-pyridylmethylamine (7-MeO-1-isoBQPA), have been prepared and the Zn(2+)-induced fluorescence enhancement has been investigated. Upon excitation at 324 nm, 1-isoBQPA exhibits a very weak emission (ϕ = ~0.010) in DMF-H2O (1 : 1). Upon Zn(2+) addition, the 1-isoBQPA fluorescence increases (ϕ(Zn) = 0.055) at 357 nm and 464 nm. The fluorescence enhancement at longer wavelengths is Zn(2+)-specific, whereas Cd(2+) induces a small emission increase at 464 nm (I(Cd)/I0 = 1.1, I(Cd)/I(Zn) = 14%). The Zn(2+)/Cd(2+) selectivity of the fluorescent response correlates with the Cd-N(isoquinoline) and Zn-N(isoquinoline) bond distances measured in the crystal structures. Introduction of methoxy groups into the 1-isoBQPA chromophore enhances the fluorescence significantly (ϕ(Zn) = 0.213), which affords 7-MeO-1-isoBQPA properties amenable for fluorescence microscopy in living cells.

A 6-methoxyquinoline conjugated diethylenetriamine derivative, N,N''-bis(6-methoxy-2-quinolylmethyl)diethylenetriamine (6-MeOBQDIEN) has been synthesized and its fluorescent response toward zinc ion was investigated. In the presence of zinc ion, 6-MeOBQDIEN exhibits fluorescence (λ(ex) = 329 nm, λ(em) = 418 nm, φ = 0.039). The fluorescent intensity of the zinc complex of the compound is two times higher than the parent BQDIEN (φ = 0.021) under the same conditions. The crystal structure of 6-MeOBQDIEN-Zn complex shows that all five nitrogen atoms participate to the metal coordination in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry (τ = 0.145) with the aliphatic nitrogen in an apical position. Fluorescent microscopic analysis using 6-MeOBQDIEN reveals the zinc ion concentration change in living cells.

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