Two large conjugated naphthalimide derivatives with or without three-methane-bridged thiazole orange (TO3; i.e., compounds 1 a and 2 a, respectively) were designed and synthesized. The fluorescence of the naphthalimide group in compound 1 a at λ=532 nm initially decreased and that for the TO3 group at λ=655 nm increased sequentially upon adding Salmon testes (St) DNA. In contrast, without the TO3 group, the fluorescence intensity of compound 2 a monotonously decreased in response to the addition of DNA. The non-monotonic change in the fluorescence for compound 1 a could be divided into two linear sections with two different wavelengths in the range of 0<R_b/1 a<1.2 and 1.2 <R_b/1 a<6.0 (R_b/1 a=[base pair]/[1 a]). Thus, compound 1 a can be regarded as a programmed responding molecule for DNA, which can semi-quantitatively determine the concentration of DNA over a large concentration range from the standard fluorescence curve of compound 1 a at different wavelengths when bound with DNA. Furthermore, the binding modes of compounds 1 a and 2 a with StDNA were studied by using CD spectroscopy and melting temperature (T_m) testing. The results showed that compound 1 a interacts with StDNA through multi-interactions including weak intercalation, weak minor groove binding, and inter-dye interactions, whereas compound 2 a bound with DNA through simultaneous intercalation and minor groove binding.

A series of new platinum-acetylide complexes containing ethynyl-pyrene moieties as the main skeleton were synthesized and characterized. The investigation of the absorption and emission spectra of these complexes revealed that the extension of the molecular size with the introduction of different numbered platinum-acetylide fragments can efficiently tune the absorption and emission bands from the UV to the longer wavelength region. Moreover, the gelation properties of these complexes were investigated by the “stable-to-inversion-of-a-test-tube” method. Most newly designed platinum-acetylide compounds presented a stable gel-formation property in some of the tested solvents. The morphology of the xerogels was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the concentration- and temperature-dependent absorption and emission properties of these complexes were investigated, which support the formation of J-type assemblies during the aggregation process. More importantly, it was found that the complexes 4 a-C6, 4 a, and 4 a-C18 with four platinum-acetylide fragments presented potential applications as luminescent organometallic gels.

A novel diarylethene-based iridium(III) complex was synthesized as a phosphorescence probe for monitoring living cells. The switchable phosphorescence complex in solution and within living cells was controlled by two distinguishable visible-light irradiations, which suggests that this complex can be developed as a promising probe with weak photodamage for biological samples.

Two new peptide-based isomers containing cholesterol and naphthalic groups have been designed and synthesized. We found that the position of L-alanine in the linker could tune the gelation properties and morphologies. The molecule with the L-alanine residue positioned in the middle of the linker (1 b) shows better gelation behavior than that with L-alanine directly linked to the naphthalimido moiety (1 a). As a result, a highly thermostable organogel of 1 b with a unique core–shell structure was obtained at high temperature and pressure in acetonitrile. Moreover, the gels of 1 a and 1 b could undergo an instantaneous gel-to-gel transition triggered by sonication. Ultrasound could break the core–shell microsphere of 1 b and the micelle structure of 1 a into entangled fibers. By studying the mechanism of the sonication-triggered gel-to-gel transition process of these compounds, it can be concluded that ultrasound has a variety of effects on the morphology, such as cutting, knitting, unfolding, homogenizing, and even cross-linking. Typically, ultrasound can cleave and homogenize π-stacking and hydrophobic interactions among the gel molecules and then reshape the morphologies to form a new gel. This mechanism of morphology transformation triggered by sonication might be attractive in the field of material storage and controlled release.

A novel triarmed cis-1, 3, 5-cyclohexanetricarboxamides gelator, functionalized by three azobenzene moieties grafted with three long alkyl chains, was designed and synthesized. The gelator can gel most of the organic solvents in low concentration. The morphologies of the xerogels show one-dimensional aggregated bundles or helical fibres. The azobenzene groups in the gel state form H-type aggregation and perform expected trans–cis photoisomerization with a gel to sol phase transition upon irradiation of UV light. The main driving force for gelation is intermolecular hydrogen bonding between amides and π–π interaction of azobenzene moieties. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.