Coumarin Photocaging Groups Modified with an Electron-Rich Styryl Moiety at the 3-Position: Long-Wavelength Excitation, Rapid Photolysis, and Photobleaching

A new class of coumarin photocaging groups modified with an electron-rich styryl moiety at the 3-position was constructed. The large π-conjugated structure and stabilization of the carbocation intermediates by electron donors endowed the new photocaging groups with excellent long-wavelength absorption, large two-photon absorption cross-sections, and high uncaging quantum yields. Moreover, the new photocaging groups displayed unique photobleaching properties after photocleavage as a result of the intramolecular cyclization rearrangement of a carbocation intermediate to form five-membered ring byproducts and block the styryl conjugation at the 3-position. These superior properties of the new photocaging groups are extremely beneficial for high-concentration samples and thick specimens, thus extending the application of photocaging groups in many fields.