7-(2-Methoxycarbonylvinyl)-3-hydroxychromones: new dyes with red shifted dual emission

7-(2-Methoxycarbonylvinyl)-3-hydroxychromones have been synthesized using Heck coupling reaction from the corresponding 7-bromo-3-hydroxychromones. Introduction of the electron acceptor (2-methoxycarbonylvinyl) group at 7-position of 3-hydroxychromone results in a 30–40 nm red shift in absorption and >50 nm red shifts of both bands in emission. This derivatization allowed us to develop dyes with absorption maxima reaching 480 nm and dual emission in the red region of the spectrum. In comparison to the parent dyes, 7-acryl-3-hydroxychromones demonstrate significantly stronger solvatochromism. This is due to the acceptor group at 7-position, which increases the transfer character of the excited state of the dyes. The new dyes are highly prospective for the development of new fluorescent probes in biological research.