Anthracene-9-methanol-a novel fluorescent phototrigger for biomolecular caging

Photoexcitation of a solution of anthracene-9-methanol derived esters at ∼386 nm in CH3CN/H2O (3:2 v/v) results in fluorescence emission in the 380-480 nm range, with quantum yields of fluorescence (Φf) in the 0.01-0.09 range and releases of the carboxylic acids in good chemical yields (43-100%), with quantum yields of photoreaction (ΦPR, i.e., the photodisappearance of the esters) in the 0.067-0.426 range.

Carboxylic acid photorelease at 386 nm in CH3CN-H2O: 43-100%λmax (CH3CN-H2O) 350-400 nm, ΦPR 0.06-0.4 (λhυ 386 nm)λf max (CH3CN-H2O) 380-480 nm; Φf 0.01-0.09 (λex 386 nm)