Scientists from the Department of Biophysical Chemistry discovered novel water-soluble oxocines and azocines that produce blue fluorescence with 100% quantum yield. These molecules are the main product of a new fluorogenic reaction that converts non-emitting biocompounds as L-DOPA, dopamine, hydroxytyrosol, etc. into useful photostable fluorophores. The new molecular structures contain the rare four-ring chromophore which originated the first written account of fluorescence emission in 1565 (Acuña et al. Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 3020). At that time, the medical doctor N. Monardes from Sevilla reported the unusual blue “color” (fluorescence) of the infusion of a medicinal wood widely used in preHispanic Aztec culture.

Reference:

Synthesis and photophysics of novel biocompatible fluorescent oxocines and azocines in aqueous solution.

A.Ulises Acuña, Mónica Älvarez-Pérez, Marta Liras, Pedro B. Coto and Francisco Amat-Guerri.

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. Sept. 2013 (DOI: 10:1039/c3cp52228h)