Synthesis of Small Fluorescent Molecules and Evaluation of Photophysical Properties.

A series of aniline-based fluorophores were newly synthesized. To increase their fluorescence quantum yields, it was particularly important to substitute 3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl (TFPE) groups next to the amino group to benefit from an extended π-electron delocalization. Among these, 5-CN-2-TFPE-aniline was found to behave as an excellent fluorophore with a reasonable fluorescence quantum yield of 0.89 even in aqueous solution. l-Alanine peptide, a nonfluorescent analogue of 5-CN-2-TFPE-aniline, was synthesized and successfully employed as an enzyme probe to detect aminopeptidase N activity.

Combined Experimental and Theoretical Studies on Planar Chirality of Partially Overlapped C2-Symmetric [3.3](3,9)Dicarbazolophanes.

Partially overlapped dicarbazolophanes exhibit a planar chirality. In this study, C2-symmetrical [3.3](3,9)dicarbazolophane derivatives (CZ1-CZ3) have been optically resolved by preparative chiral high-performance liquid chromatography for the first time. In their circular dichroism (CD) spectra, moderate Cotton effects (CEs) were observed for their 1Lb and 1La transitions (|Δε| = 10-12 and 51-57 M-1 cm-1, respectively), while intense CEs were notified in their 1B transitions (|Δε| = 156-216 M-1 cm-1), absorption dissymmetry (gabs) factors being in orders of 10-2. Circularly polarized luminescence spectrum was also obtained for cyanamide derivative CZ1, with a comparative luminescence dissymmetry (glum) factor of 0.013. A computational investigation was applied to address the factors for such remarkable chiroptical responses in these dicarbazolophanes of planar chirality. Absolute configurations were unambiguously determined by the comparison of experimental and theoretical CD spectra, which was affirmed by the X-ray crystal structural analysis of enantiomerically pure sulfonamide derivative CZ2.

Development of a fluorogenic small substrate for dipeptidyl peptidase-4.

A series of aniline and m-phenylenediamine derivatives with electron-withdrawing 3,3,3-trifluoropropenyl substituents were synthesized as small and chemically stable fluorescent organic compounds. Their fluorescence performances were evaluated by converting 2,4-disubstituted aniline 1 to the non-fluorescent dipeptide analogue H-Gly-Pro-1 for the use as a fluorogenic substrate for dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). The progress of the enzymatic hydrolysis of H-Gly-Pro-1 with DPP-4 was monitored by fluorometric determination of 1 released into the reaction medium. The results suggest that 1 could be used as fluorophore in OFF-ON-type fluorogenic probes.