Synthesis and fluorescence properties of environment-sensitive 7-(diethylamino)coumarin derivatives

By linking 7-(diethylamino)coumarin and different aromatic groups via an oxazole moiety, a small series of new environment-sensitive fluorophores have been synthesized. They display varying degrees of environment-sensitivity, depending on the aromatic group present on the oxazole ring. Additionally, these coumarin-based fluorophores show considerably better photostability compared to the nitrobenzoxadiazole fluorophore, and offer a good starting point for the further development of these fluorophores into environment-sensitive membrane probes or for other applications requiring sensitivity to the environment.