A family of new asparagine derivatives bearing benzothiazole and benzimidazole
units, functionalised with electron donor or acceptor groups, were synthesized in good to
excellent yields. The photophysical characterization of these new heterocyclic amino acids
was performed by UV-visible absorption and fluorescence emission studies and revealed that
the compounds displayed remarkably high fluorescence quantum yields and Stokes’ shifts,
making them good candidates for application as fluorescent probes by incorporation into
peptidic frameworks.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT
