A Blue Excitable Charge-Transfer Fluorescent Probe and Its Fluorogenic Derivative

Structural modification of the highly fluorescent donor-bridge-acceptor molecule “Fluoroprobe” (FP) is shown to extend the excitation window to longer wavelengths. The resulting “Fluorotrope” (FT) shows appreciable absorption in the 350-420-nm range, so that visible (blue) light can be used for excitation. Further functionalization with a maleimide group results in the novel fluorogenic reagent MaleimidoFluorotrope (MFT) which yields fluorescent adducts with amines, thiols and other reactive groups that add to the double bond of the maleimide. The fluorescence wavelength of these adducts is extremely sensitive to the polarity and mobility of the medium.