Four luminescent tetracationic bis-triarylboranes are shown to be efficient DNA and RNA sensors via fluorimetric titration, thermal denaturation and circular dichroism experiments. Using bis(phenylethynyl)arenes as linkers results in dual Raman and fluorescence chromophores with high fluorescent quantum yields in aqueous media and strong SERS responses. Comparison with an appropriate analogue confirms the importance of triple bonds for strong Raman activity in such compounds

M. Ferger, Ž. Ban, I. Krošl, S. Tomić, L. Dietrich, S. Lorenzen, F. Rauch, D. Sieh, A. Friedrich, S. Griesbeck, A. Kenđel, S. Miljanić, I. Piantanida, T. B. Marder “Bis(phenylethynyl)arene Linkers in Tetracationic bis-Triarylborane Chromophores Control Fluorimetric and Raman Sensing of Various DNA and RNA” Chem. Eur. J. (2021), https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202005141.

Ž. Ban, S. Griesbeck, S. Tomić, J. Nitsch, T. Marder, I Piantanida Chem. Eur. J. 26 (2020) 2195 – 2203. https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.201905567

T. Šmidlehner, M. Badovinac, I. Piantanida, “Pyrene – cyanine conjugates as multipurpose fluorescent probes for non-covalent recognition of ds-DNA, RNA and proteins” New J. Chem. 42, (2018), 6655-6663 

https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NJ00055G

I. Crnolatac, "Getting charged for the mitochondrial uptake" Chapter in "Fluorescence methods for investigation of living cells and microorganisms" Edited by Natalia Grigoryeva; IntechOpen Limited
London, UK

https://www.intechopen.com/books/fluorescence-methods-for-investigation-of-living-cells-and-microorganisms/getting-charged-for-the-mitochondrial-uptake

D. Saftić, M. Radić Stojković, B. Žinić, Lj. Glavaš-Obrovac, M. Jukić, I. Piantanida, L.-M. Tumir, “Impact of linker between triazolyl-uracil and phenanthridine on recognition of DNA and RNA. Recognition of uracil – containing RNA”, New J. Chem., 41 (2017), 13240 - 13252.

https://doi.org/10.1039/C7NJ02699D