Convenient one-step synthesis of 5-carboxy-seminaphthofluoresceins

Abstract The one-step synthesis and characterization of a series of regioisomerically pure 5-carboxy-seminaphthofluoresceins (5-carboxy-SNAFLs) is reported. The optical properties were determined in aqueous buffer at around biological pH, and highly pH sensitive, large Stokes-shift fluorophores with emission in the deep-red to near-infrared region were identified.