A Novel Thiourea-Based Sensor: Synthesis and Recognition for Acetate Anion

Research Article

Austin J Anal Pharm Chem. 2017; 4(3): 1093.

A Novel Thiourea-Based Sensor: Synthesis and Recognition for Acetate Anion

Chen S, Yu Q, Zhang X and Dai Z*

¹Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China

*Corresponding author: Zhenya Dai, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China

Received: December 04, 2017; Accepted: December 19, 2017; Published: December 26, 2017

Abstract

Here in a series of novel and colorimetric chemosensors based on (trans)- 1.2-cyclohexanediamine and thiourea group were designed and synthesized, and their application in anion recognition was investigated. The chemsensor 4b showed higher selectivity for the detection of acetate ion than other anion such F-, Br-, I,-, ClO4 -, H2PO4 - in DMSO. The chemsensor 4b displayed immediate visible changes from nearly colorless toyellow and yellow-green upon the addition of acetate anion.

Keywords: Anion Sensor; Thiourea; Acetate Anion; Colorimetry; Trans- 1.2-Cyclohexanediamine

Introduction

The development of colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensors for the detection of various anions has attracted much attention due to the importance of anions in biological, industrial, food and environmental process [1-8]. Among the chemosensors, colorimetric sensors could be close to be applied in practical project, in which the detection of various anions by color change with those receptors needed less instruments and costed less [9], especially for realtime and online analysis of analytes. Most of that artificial receptor for the recognition of anions were mainly based on the combined nonconvalent interactions by using the dominant N-H function groups and neutral and cationic C-H hydrogen bond donors [10]. As a result, those receptors incorporating groups such as amide [11-16], urea [17-18], pyrrole [19-20] and thiourea [21-23] as binding units were designed and reported. Some of these colorimetric receptors for acetate ion in organic media such as DMSO have been reported [24-26]. On the other hand, among various anions, acetate ion has been found to be a possible tracer for maligences and have been extensively investigated in prostate cancer and metastases [27]. Moreover the rate of the acetate ion production and oxidation has been proved to be vital as an indicator of organic eletrocomposition in marine sediments [28], in which context, the development a novel colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor for the rapid, convenient and low-cost detection of biologically important anions such as acetate was required.

While during the last few years, a large number of sensors for acetate anion have been reported, it was still a challenge to find easily synthesized, highly sensitive and selective to acetate anion and novel receptor.

Experimental

Materials

All reagents for synthesis were obtained commercially and used without further purification. In the titration experiments, all the anions were added in the form of tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salts, which were also commercially available, and stored in vacuum desiccators containing self-indicating silica and dried fully before use. DMSO was dried with CaH2 and then distilled under reduced pressure.

General method

1H NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker AV-300 spectrometer or a Bruker AV-500 spectrometer at room temperature. Chemical shifts (in ppm) were referenced to tetramethylsilane (d = 0 ppm) in CDCl3 or DMSO-d6 as an internal standard. 13C NMR spectra were obtained by the same NMR spectrometer and were calibrated with DMSO-d6 (d =39.00ppm). Data for 1H NMR were reported as follows: chemical shifts (d ppm), multiplicity (s = singlet, d = doublet, t = triplet, q = quartet, m = multiplet or unresolved, br s = broad singlet), coupling constant (Hz) and integration. Data for 13C NMR were reported in terms of chemical shift and multiplicity where appropriate. Mass spectra were performed on an Aglient 6530 Q-TOF for HRMS. The yields were determined on a METTLER TOLEDO ME 104 balance (accuracy: 0.1mg): Flash column chromatography was carried out on silica gel (200-300 mesh). UV-vis spectra were recorded on UV-2450.

Synthesis

Synthesis of 1a: 1a-1 was prepared according to the literature [29].

To a solution of 1a-1 (0.492g 2.4mmol) in anhydrous DMF, were added sequentially at room temperature: N2H4-2HCl (0.106g, 1mmol) HOBt (0.35g, 2.4mmol), DIPEA (1.4ml, 8.0mmol), EDCI (0.46g, 2.4mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours and diluted with EtOAc (40ml). The mixture was washed with water, 1% HCl and saturated sodium chloride and dried with Na2SO4. After filtration, evaporation of the solvent gave and the crude product which was further purified by silica gel (eluent: petrol: EA = 2:1) to afford the white solid (yield: 68%)

1a 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6, 500MHz) d 9.74-9.5(2H, s, NH); 7.45- 7.40(4H, d, J =7.43 Hz, ArH); 7.36-7.32(4H, t, J = 7.34 Hz, ArH); 7.29- 7.25(2H, t, J=7.27 Hz, ArH); 4.03-3.97(2H, d, J = 4.0Hz, CH); 3.46- 3.41(2H, d, J = 3.44Hz, CH); 3.22-3.16(2H, m, CH); 2.90-2.85 (2H, m, CH); 2.31-2.23(2H, m, CH); 2.13-2.05(2H, m, CH); 1.90-1.82(2H, m, CH), 1,80-1.71(4H, m, CH2); 13C-NMR(300 MHz, DMSO-d6) d 170.72, 138.75, 128.34, 128.05, 126.864, 67.76, 58.078, 52.480, 29.36, 23.02; ESI-MS: calculated for C24H30N4O2 [M+Na]+: 429.2 ; observed 429.3.

Synthesis of 2a, 3a: 2a and 3a were prepared according to the literature [30-31].

2a, white solid, yield: 98%:

1H-NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d6): d 8.55-8.47 (2H, d, J = 8.59Hz, ArH), 8.26-8.16 (2H, br s, CONH), 8.14-8.00 (4H, d, J = 8.06, ArH), 7.84-7.66 (2H, t, J = 7.73, ArH), 7.40-7.28 (2H, t, J = 7.33Hz, ArH) , 4.17-3.90 (2H, s, CH), 2.27-2.18 (2H, m, CH), 1.89-1.79 (2H, m, CH2), 1.52-1.43 (4H, m CH2); 13C-NMR (300MHz, DMSO-d6): d 163.6, 149.7, 148.2, 137.5, 126.3, 121.7, 52.3, 31.6, 24.4; ESI-MS: calculated for C18H20O2N4 [M+Na] + 347.1, found 347.1.

3a, white solid, yield: 90%:

1H-NMR(CDCl3 500 MHz):d 8.65-8.47 (2H, br s, CONH), 8.28- 8.14 (6H, m, ArH), 7.85-7.79 (2H, d, J = 7.82Hz, ArH) 7.79-7.74(2H, t, J = 7.77 Hz, ArH), 7.63-7.56(2H, t, J = 7.69 Hz, ArH), 4.66-3.98 (2H, s, CH), 2.41-2.32(2H, s, CH), 2.00-1.87(2H, s, CH), 1.72-1.49 (4H, m, CH2); 13C-NMR(CDCl3 300MHz):d 149.8,145.8,137.6,130.4, 129.0, 128.6, 127.9, 118.4, 52.8, 31.6, 24.5, ESI-MS: calculated for C26H24N4O2 [M+Na]+ 447.1, found 447.2

Synthesis of 2b and 3b: To a solution of 2a or 3a (1mmol) in CH2Cl2 (10mL) was added m-CPBA (383mg, 2.2mmol) at 0°C under stirring. After the reaction was completed, the mixture was concentrated and purified by the basic aluminum oxide column chromatography (eluent: EtOAc/MeOH = 3:1) to give a white powder 2b or 3b.

2b white solid, yield: 65%:

1H-NMR(300MHz,CDCl3) d 11.62-11.22(2H, br s, CONH), 8.49- 8.34(2H, d, J = 8.40Hz, ArH), 8.28-8.12(2H, d, J = 8.19Hz, ArH), 7.45-7.26 (4H, m, ArH), 4,42-3.98 (2H, s, CH), 2.30-2.16 (2H, s, CH), 1.87-1.73(2H, s, CH), 1.58-1.40(4H, m, CH2); 13C NMR d 159.4, 140.7, 140.4, 128.9, 127.0, 126.7, 52.5, 31.7,24.2. ESI-MS: calculated for C18H20N4O4 [M+Na]+: 379.1; observed 379.1.

3b white solid, yield: 57%:

1H-NMR(DMSO-d6, 300MHz) d 11.78-11.49 (2H, s, CONH), 8.81-8.63 (2H, m, NH), 8.40-8.33 (2H, m, ArH), 7.86-7.79 (6H, m, ArH); 7.74-7.65(2H, m, ArH), 4.51-4.25 (2H, s, CH), 2.42-2.17 (2H, m, CH2), 1.89-1.80 (2H, m, CH2), 1.66-1.57 (2H, m, CH2); 1.41-1.23 (2H, m, CH2); 13C NMR d160.3, 141.7, 137.4, 130.7, 130.5, 129.5, 127.9, 125.8, 122.7, 120.2, 52.6, 31.9, 24.3; ESI-MS: calculated for C26H24N4O4 [M+Na]+: 479.1; observed 479.0

Synthesis of 4a and 4b: 4a-1 and 4b-1 were preparation according to literature [32].

To a solution of 4a-1 or 4b-1 (1mmol) in anhydrous THF (5ml) was added (1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohenxanediamine (0.5mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours. Evaporation of the solvent gave the crude product, which was purified by flash column chromatography.

4a, white solid, yield: 70%:

1H-NMR (500MHz, DMSO-d6) d12.02-11.83(2H, s, NH), 10.48- 10.33(2H, s, NH), 8.25-8.18(2H, d, ArH, J = 8.25 Hz), 7.75-7.66(2H, t, ArH, J = 7.71 Hz), 7.10-7.03(2H, d, ArH, J = 7.07 Hz), 7.03-6.95(2H, t, ArH, J = 7.00Hz), 4.59-4.39(2H, m, NCH), 2,32-2.22(2H, m, CH), 1.76-1.70(2H, m, CH2), 1.48-1.39(4H, m, CH2); 13C-NMR(300 MHz, DMSO-d6) d 179.35, 183.66, 145.55, 138.20, 117.52, 112.28, 63.76, 28.74, 23.49; ESI-MS: calculated C18H22N6S2 [M+Na]+ 409.1, observed 409.1.

4b, yellow-white solid, yield: 69%:

1H-NMR (500MHz,DMSO-d6): d 11.87-11.19(2H, s, NH), 10.93- 10.34(2H, s, NH) 8.52- 8.04(2H, d, ArH, J = 8.25Hz), 7.98-7.88(2H, dd, ArH, J = 7.83 Hz), 7.41-6.90(2H, d, ArH, J = 7.11Hz), 4.77-4,34(2H, s, NCH), 2.38 2.19(2H, s, CH), 1.81-1.69(2H, s, CH2), 1.47-1.32(4H, m, CH2); 13C-NMR(500 MHz, DMSO-d6) d 179.1, 151.9, 143.7, 138.6, 123.5,113.8, 57.7, 31.2, 24.0; ESI-MS: calculated for C18H20Cl2N6S2 [M+H],sup>+

455.0; observed 455.1 (Figure 1).