Synthesis of fluorinated fluoresceins

Several novel fluorinated fluoresceins (Oregon Green dyes) were prepared by the reaction of fluororesorcinols with phthalic anhydride and its derivatives. A novel regiospecific synthesis of fluororesorcinols was key to the successful synthesis of these new fluorophores. (Polyfluoro)-nitrobenzenes were reacted with 2 equiv of sodium methoxide followed by reduction, hydrodediazoniation, and demethylation, giving the first straightforward synthesis of 2-fluororesorcinol, 4-fluororesorcinol, 2,4-difluororesorcinol, and 2,4,5-trifluororesorcinol. These fluorinated fluoresceins have higher photostability and ionize at a lower pH (pK(a) = 3.3-6.1) than fluorescein (pK(a) = 6.5). Some of the fluorinated fluoresceins have very high quantum yields (0.85-0.97), which, in combination with their lower pK(a)s and high photostability, makes them superior fluorescent dyes for use as reporter molecules in biological systems.