Effects of Hydrogenphosphate Quenching on Fluorescent Lifetime of Hydroxyphenyl Substituted Diazaoxatriangulenium

Abstract

Fluorophores are used in many research applications such as cell staining and as probes for ions, DNA, proteins or membranes. By
designing and synthesising the fluorophore to have specific photophysical properties it is possible to probe the surrounding
environment of the fluorophore. For example, by utilising the property of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) which quenches the
fluorescence of the fluorophore. A hydroxyphenyl substituted diazaoxatriangulenium (DAOTA+) designed to have the properties
as a pH probe using photoinduced electron transfer showed another pH dependency in addition to the expected quenching. Results
show that hydrogenphosphate is the reason for the additional quenching and other ions is also shown to have quenching abilities.
Further understanding of this mechanism could result in a new triangulenium derivative that is able to detect hydrogenphosphate or
other ions in solution. The detection of hydrogenphosphate is especially interesting as it is a key component in physiological
solutions and cells.