Probing the Ni²⁺ -selective Response of Fluorescent Probe NiSensor-1 with the NiCast Photocaged Complex

CTEA (N,N-bis[2-(carboxylmethyl)thioethyl]amine) is a mixed donor ligand that has been incorporated into multiple fluorescent sensors such as NiSensor-1 that was reported to be selective for Ni²⁺ . Other metal ions such as Zn²⁺ do not produce an emission response in aqueous solution. To investigate the coordination chemistry and selectivity of this receptor, we prepared NiCast, a photocage containing the CTEA receptor. Cast photocages undergo a photoreaction that decreases electron density on a metal-bound aniline nitrogen atom, which shifts the binding equilibrium toward unbound metal ion. The unique selectivity of CTEA was examined by measuring the binding affinity of NiCast and the CTEA receptor for Ni²⁺ , Zn²⁺ , Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ under different conditions. In aqueous solution, Ni²⁺ binds more strongly to the aniline nitrogen atom than Cd²⁺ ; however, in CH₃ CN, the change in affinity virtually disappears. The crystal structure of [Cu(CTEA)], which exhibits a Jahn-Teller-distorted square pyramidal structure, was also analyzed to gain more insight into the underlying coordination chemistry. These studies suggest that the fluorescence selectivity of NiSensor-1 in aqueous solution is due to a stronger interaction between the aniline nitrogen atom and Ni²⁺ compared to other divalent metal ions except Cu²⁺ .