Novel naphthalimide derivatives with near-infrared emission: synthesis via photochemical cycloaromatization, fluorescence in solvents and living cell

Naphthalimides with long-wavelength emission (>600 nm) and large Stokes Shift (>140 nm) as a potential NIR fluorescence imaging agent for cell, were developed through the photo-cycloaromatization, in which intramolecular radical-induced 1,3-aromatic hydrogen transfer might be occurred.