Recognition of Hg<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sup>3+</sup> in Physiological Conditions by a Rhodamine
Derivative and Its Application
as a Reagent for Cell-Imaging Studies
- Publication date
- Publisher
Abstract
A new rhodamine-based receptor, derivatized with an additional
fluorophore (quinoline), was synthesized for selective recognition
of Hg<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sup>3+</sup> in an acetonitrile/HEPES buffer
medium of pH 7.3. This reagent could be used as a dual probe and allowed
detection of these two ions by monitoring changes in absorption and
the fluorescence spectral pattern. In both instances, the extent of
the changes was significant enough to allow visual detection. More
importantly, the receptor molecule could be used as an imaging reagent
for detection of Hg<sup>2+</sup> and Cr<sup>3+</sup> uptake in live
human cancer cells (MCF7) using laser confocal microscopic studies.
Unlike Hg(ClO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> or Hg(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> salts, HgCl<sub>2</sub> or HgI<sub>2</sub> failed to induce any
visually detectable change in color or fluorescence upon interaction
with <b>L</b><sub><b>1</b></sub> under identical experimental
conditions. Presumably, the higher covalent nature of Hg<sup>II</sup> in HgCl<sub>2</sub> or HgI<sub>2</sub> accounts for its lower acidity
and its inability to open up the spirolactam ring of the reagent <b>L</b><sub><b>1</b></sub>. The issue has been addressed on
the basis of the single-crystal X-ray structures of <b>L</b><sub><b>1</b></sub>·HgX<sub>2</sub> (X<sup>–</sup> = Cl<sup>–</sup> or I<sup>–</sup>) and results from
other spectral studies