New benzo[a]phenoxazines bearing the (4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino group: synthesis and photophysical properties

Fluorescence imaging is an important tool in the diverse fields of biology, chemistry and medicinal sciences.¹ Fluorescent chemoprobes such as small synthetic molecules interact specifically with the targets of interest to induce the property of fluorescence.² Benzo[a]phenoxazines function as fluorescent probes with high emission maxima, good molar extinction coefficients and photochemical stability. Moreover, these compounds are also used for labeling of amino acids, proteins and also for staining gels in gel electrophoresis experiments.³

In connection with our research findings of benzo[a]phenoxazines along with their synthesis and various applications,^4,5 the current work describes the synthesis of new benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides possessing the (4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino at 5-position of the polycyclic system. The photophysical studies in anhydrous ethanol and water medium will be discussed along with the determination of fluorescence quantum yield.