A discrete hexagonal metallacycle 1 decorated with tetraphenylethylene, amide groups and long hydrophobic alkyl chains was constructed via [3 + 3] coordination-driven self-assembly, from which the fluorescence emission-enhanced organogelator with multiple stimuli-responsiveness was successfully prepared via hierarchical self-assembly.

During the last few years, the preparation of novel fluorescent probes for the selective detection of chemical species inside mitochondria has attracted considerable attention because of their wide applications in chemistry, biology, and medical science. This feature article focuses on the recent advances in the design principles and recognition mechanisms of these kinds of fluorescent probes. In addition, their applications for the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide, reactive sulfur species (RSS), thioredoxin (Trx), metal ions, anions, etc. in the mitochondrion is discussed as well.

A simple fluorescent probe NHQ based on quinoline was successfully prepared via one-step synthesis. The probe NHQ exhibited “turn-on” fluorescence and excellent selectivity toward Cd2+ in different buffer solutions such as Tris-HCl buffer solution, HEPES buffer solution, and PBS buffer solution, and even in water. Moreover, the binding model of NHQ with Cd2+ was definitely confirmed by the single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of the complex.

•This study presents a highly efficient approach for the construction of multiferrocenes end-capped metallodendrimers.•The characterization of these discrete multiferrocenes organometallic architectures has been described.•The structure and electronic properties of these multiferrocenes metallodendrimers has been discussed.The construction of a new family of multiferrocenes end-capped metallodendrimers H1–4 with various generations via coordination-driven self-assembly was described. The structures of these metallodendrimers H1–4 were characterized by multinuclear NMR {1H and 31P} spectroscopy, electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS), and the PM6 semiempirical molecular orbital method. Insight into the structure and electronic properties of these supramolecules was obtained through electrochemical studies.

We designed and constructed a new family of 60° dendritic dipyridyl donors, from which two novel triangular metallodendrimers were successfully prepared via coordination-driven self-assembly. Inspired by the existence of multiple intermolecular interactions (e.g., π–π stacking and CH–π interactions) imposed by the DMIP-functionalized poly(benzyl ether) dendrons, their hierarchical self-assembly behaviors were studied in various mixed solvents by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Interestingly, it was found that the morphologies of the obtained metallodendrimers were highly depended on the dendron generation. For example, the first-generation metallodendrimer was able to hierarchically self-assemble into the spherical nanostructures in various mixed solvents. However, the nanofibers were observed for the second-generation metallodendrimer under the similar conditions. Furthermore, the driven force for the formation of such ordered nanostructures was investigated by using 1H NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy.We designed and synthesized of a new family of 60° dendritic dipyridyl donors, from which two novel triangular metallodendrimers were successfully prepared via [3 + 3] coordination-driven self-assembly. Interestingly, both first- and second-generation metallodendrimers were able to hierarchically self-assembly into the ordered nanostructures. Further investigation revealed that the morphologies of the obtained metallodendrimers were highly depended on the dendron generation.

A neutral branched platinum–acetylide complex TPA possessing a tetraphenylethylene core was successfully prepared, which was found to form luminescent organometallic gels in ethyl acetate. Stimulated by temperature or F−, the reversible gel–sol transition was realized. More interestingly, TPA exhibited an unexpected blue shift of the emission during the sol-to-gel transition.

A naphthalimide-based fluorescent ensemble probe NPC for selectively detecting His in aqueous solution (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4) has been reported. Moreover, the application of NPC in in vivo (both in Hela cells and in C. elegans) fluorescence imaging was carried out as well.

A new naphthalimide-based fluorescent probe NPA for detection of nitric oxide (NO) is reported. NPA responds to NO quickly and shows a 25-fold fluorescence enhancement within 10 seconds. To the best of our knowledge, NPA exhibits the fastest detection rate for NO based on o-phenylenediamine receptor. Moreover, NPA can detect NO quantitatively in aqueous solution with an estimated detection limit of 0.87 × 10−8 M.

A naphthalimide-based fluorescent ensemble probe NPM-Cu for selectively detecting PPi in aqueous solution (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4) has been developed. Moreover, the application of NPM-Cu in living cells fluorescence imaging was carried out as well.

A novel fluorescent probe NPM based on naphthalimide was designed and synthesized. Interestingly, NPM exhibited highly selective fluorescence turn-on for Hg2+ and turn-off for Cu2+ in aqueous solution (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.5). Its fluorescence intensity enhanced in a linear fashion with the concentration of Hg2+ and decreased in a nearly linear fashion with the concentration of Cu2+. Thus NPM could be potentially used for the quantification of Hg2+ and Cu2+ in aqueous solution. A series of model compounds were rationally designed and synthesized in order to explore the sensing mechanisms and binding modes of NPM with Hg2+ and Cu2+.

Through coordination-driven self-assembly, a novel naphthalimide-containing hexagonal metallocycle with well-defined shape and size has been successfully constructed, which was found to maintain the good performance on fluorescence detection of protons.

A new family of pyrene-containing compounds 2–4 derived from aminoquinoline-containing fluorescent probe 1 were successfully synthesized and well characterized. The investigation of the absorption and emission spectra of these compounds revealed that the photophysical properties were significantly affected by the substitution of pyrene. Moreover, these compounds exhibited selective fluorescence behaviour towards Zn2+ in aqueous solution. The gelation properties of these compounds were investigated by the “stable to inversion of a test tube” method. Interestingly, 1,8-bis-substituted compound 4 displayed stable gel-formation properties in acetone, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and dichloromethane. The morphologies of the xerogels were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The concentration- and temperature-dependent emission properties, and concentration- and temperature-variable 1H NMR spectroscopy of compound 4 were investigated, which suggested that both π–π stacking interaction and hydrogen bonding were the driving forces for the process of self-aggregation and the gel formation. In addition, studies on the luminescence properties indicated that 4 had the ability to form a fluorescent organogel with interesting fluorescence behaviour. More importantly, it was found that compound 4 could form a stimuli-responsive gel that had a sensitive gel-to-sol transition response to heating or adding Zn2+.

A new branched platinum–acetylide complex PP6 containing pyrene as the main skeleton, pentiptycene units as bridges, and long alkyl chains as branches was successfully synthesized. The structure of PP6 was well characterized by 1H NMR, 31P {1H} NMR, MALDI-TOF-MS spectrometry, and the semiempirical PM6 method. The investigation of the absorption and emission spectra of PP6 and the model complexes revealed that the introduction of iptycene was beneficial to improve the emission efficiency. More importantly, PP6 was aggregated into ordered microspheres driven by the hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions. The morphologies of the microspheres were investigated by SEM, TEM, LSCM, and EDX. Furthermore, the morphologies and the sizes of the microscale aggregates could be changed by altering the iptycene moiety or the hydrophobic units in PP6.

The design and self-assembly of novel multipyrene hexagonal metallacycles via coordination-driven self-assembly is described. By employing newly designed 120° dipyridine donor and di-Pt(II) acceptor linkers substituted with pyrene, a variety of tris- and hexakis(pyrene) hexagonal metallacycles with well-defined shape and size were prepared via [3 + 3] and [6 + 6] self-assembly, respectively, under mild conditions in high yields. The structures of these novel metallacycles were well characterized by multinuclear NMR (31P and 1H) spectroscopy, cold-spray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CSI-TOF-MS), electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS), and elemental analysis. The shape and size of all hexagonal metallacycles were investigated by the PM6 semiempirical molecular orbital method. The preliminary study of their spectroscopic behavior was also carried out. It was found that these pyrene-modified metallacycles displayed different optical behaviors, which might be caused by the structural effects.

A series of new multipyrene-modified platinum acetylide oligomers were successfully synthesized utilizing the coupling reaction of trans-Pt complexes with C–H bonds in alkynes as the key step. These new conjugated oligomers were characterized by multinuclear NMR (1H, 13C, and 31P) and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF–MS). Preliminary spectroscopic studies of these oligomers were also carried out.

A simple fluorescent probe NHQ based on quinoline was successfully prepared via one-step synthesis. The probe NHQ exhibited “turn-on” fluorescence and excellent selectivity toward Cd2+ in different buffer solutions such as Tris-HCl buffer solution, HEPES buffer solution, and PBS buffer solution, and even in water. Moreover, the binding model of NHQ with Cd2+ was definitely confirmed by the single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of the complex.

During the last few years, the preparation of novel fluorescent probes for the selective detection of chemical species inside mitochondria has attracted considerable attention because of their wide applications in chemistry, biology, and medical science. This feature article focuses on the recent advances in the design principles and recognition mechanisms of these kinds of fluorescent probes. In addition, their applications for the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide, reactive sulfur species (RSS), thioredoxin (Trx), metal ions, anions, etc. in the mitochondrion is discussed as well.

A novel fluorescent probe NPM based on naphthalimide was designed and synthesized. Interestingly, NPM exhibited highly selective fluorescence turn-on for Hg2+ and turn-off for Cu2+ in aqueous solution (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.5). Its fluorescence intensity enhanced in a linear fashion with the concentration of Hg2+ and decreased in a nearly linear fashion with the concentration of Cu2+. Thus NPM could be potentially used for the quantification of Hg2+ and Cu2+ in aqueous solution. A series of model compounds were rationally designed and synthesized in order to explore the sensing mechanisms and binding modes of NPM with Hg2+ and Cu2+.

A naphthalimide-based fluorescent ensemble probe NPC for selectively detecting His in aqueous solution (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4) has been reported. Moreover, the application of NPC in in vivo (both in Hela cells and in C. elegans) fluorescence imaging was carried out as well.

A neutral branched platinum–acetylide complex TPA possessing a tetraphenylethylene core was successfully prepared, which was found to form luminescent organometallic gels in ethyl acetate. Stimulated by temperature or F−, the reversible gel–sol transition was realized. More interestingly, TPA exhibited an unexpected blue shift of the emission during the sol-to-gel transition.

A discrete hexagonal metallacycle 1 decorated with tetraphenylethylene, amide groups and long hydrophobic alkyl chains was constructed via [3 + 3] coordination-driven self-assembly, from which the fluorescence emission-enhanced organogelator with multiple stimuli-responsiveness was successfully prepared via hierarchical self-assembly.