Synthesis and Spectroscopic Properties of a Novel Bifunctional Pyrene Derivative and its Incorporation into OligoDNA

Abstract

A new pyrene derivative bearing a modifiable silyl function (electron-donating group) and cyano function (electronwithdrawing group) was synthesized as a labelling agent for biological substances. The modified pyrene exhibited a marked bathochromic shift in both absorption and fluorescence spectra. The fluorescence quantum yield of the modified pyrene was also significantly increased compared with that of the unmodified pyrene. The modified pyrene was successfully incorporated into oligoDNA.

Dedication to Desmond Joseph Brown

“…They modified the side chain of the fluorophore and successfully incorporated it into oligo-DNA. [53] A senior co-author of the two previous papers is the famous Japanese pharmaceutical and medicinal chemist Fumio Yoneda. He was formerly Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kumamoto University, then Professor, Councillor, and Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kyoto University.…”

“…He was a mentor to many outstanding students from Japan who are now in senior appointments. [52,53] Kazuharu Ienaga (Kazu), a former Ph.D. student of Des Brown, is now a consultant to Nippon-Zoki Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, Osaka. He worked for many years in this company on the use of renal metabolites as markers of the various stages of renal impairment, and has always been in close correspondence.…”