A set of three benzophenoxazine dyes, two completely soluble and one partially soluble
in aqueous media, has been prepared and their spectroscopic properties examined. These
dyes can be used as either donor or acceptor in synthesis of through-bond energy transfer
cassettes. Structural modifications prevented aggregation in water and improved their
fluorescence properties in water. Their absorption and emission were studied in both
organic and aqueous media. Two of the three dyes have superior quantum yields in
aqueous media as compared to other reported dyes. Improved quantum yield makes these
dyes attractive candidates for biological studies in aqueous media.
We have also prepared alkynes and iodo derivatives of benzophenoxazines, which can be
used for synthesis of water-soluble, through-bond, energy transfer cassettes. Alkynes
were prepared via Sonogashira coupling