Affiliation:
1. Department of Chemistry – BMC Uppsala University Box 576 75123 Uppsala Sweden
2. Department of Immunology Genetics and Pathology Uppsala University Rudbeck Laboratory 75185 Uppsala Sweden
Abstract
AbstractThis work presents the pH sensing ability of a fluorescent indolin‐3‐imine derivative. Protonation of the weakly basic imine (pKa=8.3 of its conjugate acid) results in a significant red‐shift of the absorption band. The fluorophore acts as a photobase, with a basicity increase of approximately 6 units upon photoexcitation. This behavior promotes excited state proton transfer from weak acids such as protic solvents. The characteristics of the fluorophore enable sensing of water fractions in organic solvents and differentiation between methanol, ethanol, and longer chain alcohols. Initial cell studies indicated the future potential of indolin‐3‐imines as fluorophores for bioimaging applications.
Subject
Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Analytical Chemistry