Siripanich P.Bureerug T.Chanmungkalakul S.Sukwattanasinitt M.Ervithayasuporn V.Mahidol University2023-06-182023-06-182022-02-14Organometallics Vol.41 No.3 (2022) , 201-21002767333https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/84206Pyrene-conjugated monomeric (2) and dimeric (5) shaped-silsesquioxane (SQ) cages, as chemical sensors for detecting fluoride and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were prepared by Heck-coupling reactions between vinyl-functionalized SQ cages and bromo-substituted pyrenes. These sensors give a remarkable deep-blue fluorescence, which could be quenched in the presence of fluoride and electron-withdrawing PAHs. Interestingly, both sensors 2 and 5 show a rapid detection toward PAHs, while a high number of vinylic silicon atoms in a monomeric cage-based sensor 2 detected fluoride relatively faster than a bulky dumbbell sensor 5. In addition, these sensors also provide a naked-eye color of fluoride detection through an intramolecular charge-transfer presenting in yellow and pink (λmax ∼495 and 520 nm) for mono and dumbbell sensors, respectively. The limit of detection for fluoride and PAH (e.g., 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde and 1-nitropyrene) detections is approximately 1-3 μM. The computational calculation for the further mechanistic study of PAHs detection revealed that an emission of SQ was absorbed by PAHs, thereby resulting in aggregation-caused quenching.ChemistryArticleSCOPUS10.1021/acs.organomet.1c004602-s2.0-8512402769015206041