title: Long-wavelength analogue of PRODAN: synthesis and properties of Anthradan, a fluorophore with a 2,6-donor-acceptor anthracene structure.
abstract: We have synthesized the environment-sensitive fluorophores 2-cyano-6-dihexylaminoanthracene and 2-propionyl-6-dihexylaminoanthracene (Anthradan) starting from 2,6-diaminoanthraquinone. Anthradan is the benzologue of the well-known family of naphthalene 2-propionyl-6-dimethylaminonaphthalene (PRODAN) fluorophores. The additional spectral red shift of the anthracene avoids the autofluorescence of many biological systems and provides for more favorable excitation wavelengths for fluorescence applications. Furthermore, Anthradan exhibits polarity-sensitive emission comparable to that of PRODAN and displays high quantum yields in a range of solvents. Single molecules of these anthracene-containing fluorophores have been imaged in polymer hosts as a proof-of-principle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, USA.
authors.forename: Zhikuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Moerner
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Twieg
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009570:Nitriles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: C517326:2-cyano-2-(dihexylamino)anthracene; D000873:Anthracenes; D009570:Nitriles; C517327:anthradan; C034020:anthracene