title: Photophysical properties of acene DCDHF fluorophores: long-wavelength single-molecule emitters designed for cellular imaging.
abstract: We report the solvatochromic, viscosity-sensitive, and single-molecule photophysics of the fluorophores DCDHF-N-6 and DCDHF-A-6. These molecules are members of the dicyanomethylenedihydrofuran (DCDHF) class of single-molecule emitters that contain an amine electron donor and a DCDHF acceptor linked by a conjugated unit; DCDHF-N-6 and DCDHF-A-6 have naphthalene- and anthracene-conjugated linkers, respectively. These molecules maintain the beneficial photophysics of the phenylene-linked DCDHF (i.e., photostability, emission wavelength dependence on solvent polarity, and quantum yield sensitivity to solvent viscosity), yet offer absorption and emission at longer wavelengths that are more appropriate for cellular imaging. We demonstrate that these new fluorophores are less photolabile in an aqueous environment than several other commonly used dyes (rhodamine 6G, Texas Red, and fluorescein). Finally, we image single copies of the acene DCDHFs diffusing in the plasma membrane of living cells.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5080, USA.
authors: Samuel J
authors: SJ
authors: Lord
authors: Zhikuan
authors: Z
authors: Lu
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Katherine A
authors: KA
authors: Willets
authors: P James
authors: PJ
authors: Schuck
authors: Hsiao-lu D
authors: HL
authors: Lee
authors: Stefanie Y
authors: SY
authors: Nishimura
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Twieg
authors: W E
authors: WE
authors: Moerner
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010777:Photochemistry; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; C524092:DCDHF-A-6; C524091:DCDHF-N-6; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005663:Furans; D009281:Naphthalenes; D009570:Nitriles; C521333:dicyanomethylenedihydrofuran
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