Five new 7-hydroxy-8-(N-alkylaminomethyl)coumarin labels (6a-e) were p
repared from 4-(4-carboxybutyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin (4) in 28-48% yield.
Compared to 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU, 1), the new fluorescent labe
ls exhibited higher emission intensity over a broader pH range. Extinc
tion coefficients, quantum yields and pKa values are also reported for
these labels. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.