Synthesis of quinoline derivatives for fluorescent imaging certain bacteria

Highly fluorescent quinoline derivatives were synthesized using Sc(OTf)3 catalyzed imino Diels–Alder reaction. Both the aromatic and their analogous tetradehydroquinoline derivatives were explored for the detection of bacteria using fluorescent imaging studies. Surprisingly the aromatic quinoline derivatives show a remarkable fluorescent response that can be useful in the detection of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria even at a concentration in the range of 0.078 mM.

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