Aggregation-induced emission and self-assembly of functional tetraphenylethene-based tetracationic dicyclophanes for selective detection of ATP in water

Functional dicyclophanes with various substituents (e.g., NO2, Br, OCH3 and OH) were synthesized via one-pot S(N)2 reaction. Dicyclophanes can form nanospheres via the head-to-tail self-assembly between the cavities and the TPE units to exhibit aggregation-induced emission (AIE) in aqueous solution. These AIE-active nanospheres with cationic feature exhibited selective recognition with fluorescence response for anionic ATP via electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic effects in water. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

Functional dicyclophanes with various substituents were synthesized using one-pot S(N)2 reaction, which can form nanospheres exhibiting aggregation-induced emission in aqueous solution. These AIE-active nanospheres with cationic feature selectively recognize anionic ATP through electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic effects in water.