Order–order assembly transition-driven polyamines detection based on iron−sulfur complexes

Yahui Zhang, Xiangyu Zhao, Yue Qin, Xiaopei Li, Yongxin Chang, Zhenqiang Shi, Mengyuan Song, Wenjing Sun, jie Xiao, Zan Li, and Guangyan Qing*

Communications Chemistry 2023, 6, 146.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-023-00942-1

      The innovation in response mode can greatly push forward the chemical sensing processes and subsequently enhance the sensing effect. Classical chemical sensing modes seldom involve the transition of the delicate molecular assembly during the response. Here, we display a brand new sensing mode: assembly order-order transition-driven polyamine detection based on iron–sulfur complexes. Strong validation proves that the unique order-order transition of the assemblies is the driving force of the response, in which the polyamine captures the metal ion of the iron–sulfur complex, leading it to decompose into metal–polyamine product, accompanied by an order-order transition of the assemblies. This unique mechanism makes the detection process more intuitive and selective, and further remarkably improves the detection efficiency, achieving excellent polyamines specificity, second-level response, convenient visual detection, and good recyclability of the sensing system. Furthermore, this paper also provides a paradigm for the further application of iron–sulfur platform in environment-related fields.

Fig. 1. Synthesis of iron-sulfur metal complexes and standard curves developed from UV-visible spectra, visual detection plots and differential pulse voltammetry data before and after their response to polyamines and monoamines.

Fig. 2. Responding mechanism.

Fig. 3. Recyclability of the iron-sulfur sensor and regularity of response to polyamines and monoamines