Design of a coumarin-based triketone as a fluorescent protecting group for primary amines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo801060p

(Chemical Equation Presented) A series of 3-acetyl-4-hydroxycoumarin and its derivatives were prepared and evaluated for their potential to function as a fluorescent primary amine protection group. When primary amines or amino acids react with the protecting group 3-acetyl-4-methoxy-7-N,N-dimethylaminocoumarin, the resulting compounds emit blue fluorescence with a quantum yield of 0.25-0.50 in methylene chloride. These protected compounds display satisfactory acid/base stability, and the protecting group can be removed with 5% hydrazine hydrate in DMF within 5 min at ambient temperature.