Photoconversion of o-hydroxycinnamates to coumarins and its application to fluorescence imaging

(E)-o-Hydroxycinnamates were synthesized and their photochemical behavior was investigated in liquid and solid states. It was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy that the (E)-o-hydroxycinnamates converted into the corresponding coumarins via (Z)-o-hydroxycinnamate intermediates. The photoconversion was greatly accelerated in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid. The optical properties of the cinnamates were compared with those of the corresponding coumarins. Fluorescence imaging was successfully accomplished by photoirradiation of PMMA films containing the cinnamates.