MediaChrom: Discovering a Class of Pyrimidoindolone-Based Polarity-Sensitive Dyes

J Org Chem. 2015 Nov 6;80(21):10939-54. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.5b02066. Epub 2015 Oct 28.

Abstract

A small library of six polarity-sensitive fluorescent dyes, nicknamed MediaChrom, was prepared. This class of dyes is characterized by a pyrimidoindolone core fitted out with a conjugated push-pull system and a carboxy linker for a conceivable coupling with biomolecules. The optimized eight-step synthetic strategy involves a highly chemo- and regioselective gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reaction. The photophysical properties of MediaChrom dyes have been evaluated in-depth. In particular, the MediaChrom bearing a diethylamino as an electron-donating group and a trifluoromethyl as an electron-withdrawing group displays the most interesting and advantageous spectroscopic features (e.g., absorption and emission in the visible range and a good quantum yield). Promising results in terms of sensitivity have been obtained in vitro on this dye as a membrane/lipophilic probe and as a peptide fluorescent label.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Electrochemistry / methods
  • Electrons
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pyrimidinones / chemistry*
  • Quantum Theory
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Pyrimidinones