Coumarinylmethyl caging groups with redshifted absorption.

The small and synthetically easily accessible coumarinylmethyl backbone has been modified to generate a family of photolabile protecting groups with redshifted absorption. We relied on introducing electron-donating groups in the 7 position and electron-withdrawing groups in the 2-, and 2- and 3 positions. In particular, we showed that the diethylamino-thiocoumarylmethyl and the diethylamino-coumarylidenemalononitrilemethyl are relevant for uncaging with cyan light. They both exhibit a significant action cross section for uncaging in the 470-500 nm wavelength range and a low light absorption between 350 and 400 nm. These attractive features are favorable to perform chromatic orthogonal photoactivation with UV and blue-cyan light sources, respectively.