Infrared absorbing croconaine dyes: synthesis and metal ion binding properties

Quinaldine-based croconaine dyes synthesized by the condensation reaction between croconic acid and the respective quinaldinium salts are described. These dyes exhibit absorption maximum in the infrared region (840-870 nm) with high molar extinction coefficients (1-5 x 10(5) M(-1) cm(-1)) and have very low fluorescence quantum yields. Upon binding to divalent metal ions, these dyes were found to form complexes with a 2:1 stoichiometry having high association constants of the order of 10(11)-10(14) M(-2), while the monovalent metal ions showed negligible affinity. The binding of the croconaine dye 3d with divalent metal ions especially Zn(2+), Pb(2+), and Cd(2+) led to significant chelation-enhanced fluorescence emission. The broadening of the aromatic signals, vinylic and N-methyl protons and the negligible changes at the aliphatic region of the dye 3d in the (1)H NMR spectrum in the presence of Zn(2+), indicate that the binding occurs at the carbonyl groups of the croconyl ring. The shift in the croconyl carbonyl stretching frequency in the [3d-Zn(2+)] complex analyzed through FT-IR analysis further confirms the involvement of two electron-rich carbonyl groups of the croconyl moiety in the complexation. These results demonstrate that the binding of the divalent metal ions at the carbonyl oxygens of these infrared absorbing dyes can be favorably utilized for the development of potential sensors for the detection of metal ions and further can be exploited as sensitizers for photodynamic therapeutic applications.