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The intense blue fluorescence of the infusion of Lignum nephriticum (Eysenhardtia polystachya), first observed in the sixteenth century, is due to a novel four-ring tetrahydromethanobenzofuro[2,3-d]oxacine which is not present in the plant but is the end product of an unusual, very efficient iterative spontaneous oxidation of at least one of the tree's flavonoids.

The acaricide abamectin is a mixture of two colorless homologues in a molar ratio of at least 4:1 with the same structure of macrocyclic lactone. The kinetics of its degradation under direct (254 nm) and dye-sensitized (>400 nm) photoirradiation in methanol solution has been studied by UV-vis spectrophotometry, potentiometric detection of dissolved oxygen, stationary fluorescence, laser flash photolysis, and time-resolved detection of singlet molecular oxygen (O2((1)Delta(g))) phosphorescence. The results indicate that the degradation is very efficient under direct irradiation with UV light (254 nm), with a quantum yield of 0.23. On the contrary, under visible-light irradiation, using the natural pigment riboflavin or the synthetic dye rose bengal as sensitizers, the degradation is very inefficient and proceeds through a O2((1)Delta(g))-mediated mechanism, with a bimolecular rate constant for the overall O2((1)Delta(g)) quenching (the sum of physical and chemical quenching) of 5.5 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1). This value is similar to those reported for the rate constants of the reactions of O2((1)Delta(g)) with isolated double bonds or conjugated dienes and points to similar processes in the case of abamectin.

The leishmanicidal mechanism of miltefosine (hexadecylphosphocholine, MT) is not clearly understood. Valuable insights into its mode of action could be obtained by fluorescence techniques, given suitably emitting analogues. In this regard, the synthesis and biological characterization of two fully competent MT fluorescent analogues is reported here: all-(E)-13-phenyltrideca-6,8,10,12-tetraenylphosphocholine (PTE-MT) and all-(E)-13-phenyltrideca-8,10,12-trien-6-ynylphosphocholine (PTRI-MT). Both compounds show large absorption coefficients and a modest, but usable, fluorescence yield. Their activities were very similar to that of MT and were recognized by the MT uptake system of Leishmania. Their localization in living L. donovani promastigotes by confocal microscopy show a homogeneous intracellular distribution of the fluorescence. The concentration of PTRI-MT within the parasites (ca. 1.7 mM) showed a 100-fold enrichment relative to its external concentration. These results are consistent with a multiple target leishmanicidal mechanism for MT and validate the application of these analogues for pharmacokinetic and diagnostic studies concerning the chemotherapy of leishmaniasis.

The asymmetrically substituted BODIPY dyes 9a and 9b have been synthesized through a key redox step involving the alpha-nitroso derivative of the starting pyrrol. Both dyes emit fluorescence with quantum yields of ca. 0.7, but only 8b behaves as a good laser dye, with an efficiency of 48% in ethanol solution.

Edelfosine (ET-18-OCH3), a synthetic antitumor ether lipid, is taken up by malignant but not by normal cells, triggering apoptosis in a large variety of human tumor cells. The synthesis of the first fluorescent edelfosine analogue (6), with apoptotic activity comparable to that of the parent drug, is described. Fluorescence microscopy experiments show that 6 selectively labels human cancer cells, accumulating into specific domains of the plasma membrane.