Phosphates Sensing: Two Polyamino-Phenolic Zinc Receptors Able to Discriminate and Signal Phosphates in Water

Two Zn(II)-dinuclear systems were studied as receptors for phosphates; they were obtained by using the two polyamino-phenolic ligands 3,3’-bis[N,N-bis(2-aminoethyl)aminomethyl]-2,2’-dihydroxybiphenyl (L1) and 2,6-bis[N,Nbis(2-aminoethyl)aminomethyl]phenol (L2) in which the difference lies in the spacers between the two dien units, biphenol or phenol in L1 and L2, respectively. The metallo-receptors obtained are able to selectively discriminate phosphate (Pi) from pyrophosphate (PPi) and vice versa in aqueous solution in a wide range of pH (6 < pH < 10). The L1 receptor system shows selectivity toward PPi over Pi, and on the contrary the L2 system exhibits opposite selectivity. This different selectivity is ascribed to the different Zn(II)-Zn(II) distances between the two metal centers which, showing a similar coordination requirement and binding phosphate in a bridge disposition, fit in a different way with the different guests. Furthermore, NMR studies supported the model of interaction proposed between guests and receptors, highlighting that they are also able to bind biological phosphates such as G6P and ATP at physiological pH. Fluorescence studies showed that the receptor system based on L1 is able to signal the presence in solution of Pi and PPi at physiological pH; the presence of Pi is detected by a quenching of the emission, that of PPi by an enhancement of it. With the aid of an external colored sensor (PCV), the receptors were then used to produce simple signaling systems for phosphates based on the displacement method; the two chemosensors obtained are able to signal and quantify these anions at physiological pH, preserving the selectivity between phosphate and pyrophosphate and extending it to G6P and ATP.