Structural features for fluorescing present in methoxycoumarin derivatives

Structural features of fluorescent methoxycoumarins were examined from the viewpoint of substituent effect and ring structure in connection with intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT). The fluorescence of methoxycoumarins depended primarily upon the ICT from a C6-electron-donating group to the substituents at the C3-position of the coumarin ring. Furthermore, the presence of a lactone ring itself, including a carbonyl group, cyclic ether oxygen and ethylenic bond as partial ring structures, was found to be essential for fluorescing in methoxycoumarins according to the fluorescent behaviors of chemically deformed model compounds.