Cation–Anionic Interactions of Dyes in Aqueous Solutions: Bromocresol Purple in the Processes of Dissimilar Association

The interaction between single- or double-charged anions of bromocresol purple (BP) and cyanine cations (quinaldine blue, QB, or quinaldine red, QR) at concentrations of dyes 5.0·10−7–4.0·10−5 mol/L has been investigated by vis-spectroscopy. The thermodynamic constants of dissimilar associations (Kas) have been studied. Comparison of the values of lg Kas shows that QB− associates of BP− are more stable (6.61 ± 0.07) than QR associates (4.84 ± 0.06); a similar phenomenon is observed for associates of the BP2− anion. Semi-empirical calculations (PM3 method) are in agreement with the vis-spectroscopy data and indicate that the association of dye into an associate is possible. The standard enthalpies of formation of associates (ΔfHo) and energy diagrams have been determined. The ΔfHo data indicate that the formation of an associate between dye ions is an energetically favourable process. The gain in energy significantly exceeds the systematic error of semi-empirical calculations and increases from 157 kJ/mol (associate ”BP− + QB+”) to 729 kJ/mol (associate “BP2− + QR+”). The most probable structures of dissimilar associates are presented. The study of the dissimilar association develops the concept of intermolecular interactions in solutions.

Quinaldine red as a fluorescent light-up probe for i-motif structures

We report a new fluorescent probe for i-motif structures. When binding to i-motifs, quinaldine red exhibits a remarkable increase in its fluorescence, which benefits i-motif-involved label-free systems.