7-Methoxy-3-nitro-2-naphthalenemethanol-a new phototrigger for caging applications

Synthesis, photochemistry and photorelease properties of 7-methoxy-3-nitro-2-naphthalenemethanol (MNNM) are described. Photoirradiation (⩾370 nm) of MNNM covalently linked to hippuric acid causes efficient release (∼90%) of hippuric acid.