Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of 3-(Trifluoromethyl)-2H-imidazo[5,1-a]isoquinolinium Chloride Derivatives

Abstract

A series of novel blue-light-emitting 2H-imidazo[5,1-a]isoquinolinium chloride derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of isoquinoline with trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides and isocyanides in dry CH2Cl2 in excellent yields. Fluorescence studies showed that the compounds absorb UV radiation and then emit blue light at about 481 nm with moderate to good fluorescence quantum yields. These compounds also showed high Stokes shifts, and can be used to develop ­ultrasensitive fluorescent molecular probes to study a variety of biological events and processes.