title: Nucleobase-functionalized conjugated polymer for detection of copper(II).
abstract: In recent years, supramolecular organization of thiophene derivatives, oligo- and polythiophene, have been developed with various designs to achieve complex functions. Here, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a conjugated polymer with thymidine side chain bases and polythiophene backbones (PTT) instead of phosphate bonds in DNA, and the PTT exhibits exceptional fluorescence quenching efficiency upon binding of Cu(2+) ions in aqueous medium, which is suggested to be electron transfer from the π* orbit at the excited state of PTT to the 3d orbit of Cu(2+) ions and subsequent Cu(2+)-mediated interpolymer π-stacking aggregation. Furthermore, Cu(2+) ions can be selectively and easily monitored by the fluorescence quenching of PTT, which can be used for detection of Cu(2+) ions with good selectivity and high sensitivity in aqueous medium. Both experimental and theoretical methods have been devoted to demonstrate the strong affinity and steric interaction of PTT toward Cu(2+). These findings will illustrate new directions for the design of nucleobase-functionalized materials with transition metals responsive activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology , Tianjin 300401, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Chengfen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Sichuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hailong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Ruimin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D005453:Fluorescence; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D010710:Phosphates; D011108:Polymers; D013876:Thiophenes; D014867:Water; D003300:Copper; D004247:DNA; D013936:Thymidine