Dinuclear metal complex and pyrophosphate assay using the same

Abstract

A novel coordination complex formed by dinuclear metal complexation is provided. The complex is a dinuclear metal complex of a compound, wherein the compound comprises a conjugation ring system substituted with: a) an electron donating group selected from —OH, —SH and —NH; b) an indicating group selected from a chromogenic group, a fluorescent group and an electrochemical group; and c) two binding auxiliary groups, in combination with the electron donating group each of which being coordinated with the metal to provide an anion bonding site, wherein as the complex binds to a anion, the coordination of the electron donating group with the metal is weakened and electron donation of the electron donating group to the conjugation ring system is reinforced such that the reinforced electron donation by the electron donating group is transferred through the conjugation ring system to the indicating group to produce an indicating signal concomitant with the change of its electronic density. The coordination complex shows high sensitivity and high selectivity for pyrophosphate over other anions in an aqueous solvent over a wide pH range. Therefore, the complex is useful for pyrophosphate assay as a pyrophosphate sensor.