Synthesis and photochemical studies of two p-hydroxyphenacyl derived photocages

The synthesis of new p-hydroxyphenylacyl(pHP) derived photocages containing either coumarin or benzothiazole fluorophore cores is described. The newly synthesized photocages exhibit absorption spectra extending beyond 400 nm and good photolysis efficiency. The pHP inspired design, with the insertion of a carbonyl group, provides a 50-60 nm bathochromic shift and efficient photo-cleavage. Caged chemical probes for controlled protein dimerization were prepared containing the newly developed pHP photocages. In vitro experiments verified efficient photochemical uncaging of the newly developed pHP chemical probes. Cell imaging experiments utilizing the new pHP caged probes are currently in progress.