The investigation of fluorescence and metal interaction properties of racemic 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-3-hydroxy-4-(1-hydroxyethyl)benzo[c]chromen-6-one.

The design or investigation of fluorescence probes continues to receive attention with respect to the diverse applications of spectrofluorometry. Depending on the highly sensitive character, fluorescence spectroscopy-based methodologies have been widely used in recent years in different sciences, including analytical, environmental, and medicinal chemistry areas. In our previous works, we have shown the iron (III) selective on-off sensor properties of benzo[c]chromen-6-one derivatives. In this study, we have extrapolated this research to 4-substituted analogues and investigated both fluorescent and metal interaction properties. Following the synthesis and structure identification studies, (±)-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-3-hydroxy-4-(1-hydroxyethyl)benzo[c]chromen-6-one was found as a fluorescent molecule displaying fluorescence enhancement in the presence of metals. This feature has been found quite different in comparison to the previous urolithins investigated. This finding suggested the substituent dependent effects and variations on the fluorescent properties of benzo[c]chromen-6-one system.