4'-[Aminomethyl]fluorescein and its N-alkyl derivatives: useful reagents in immunodiagnostic techniques.

A new class of fluorescein derivatives with chemically reactive amino and N-alkylamino "arms" in the 4'-position were synthesized and their utility in the development of fluorescence polarization immunoassays (FPIA) for cortisol and estriol was evaluated. The positioning of the arm in one of the phenolic rings introduced chirality due to hindered rotation and led to rotational isomers. These were separable when brought into a chiral environment, i.e., conjugated to steroid molecules. In the case of cortisol conjugates, the rotamers had similar properties in the FPIA. In the case of estriol conjugates, however, each rotamer exhibited different immunoassay characteristics. The rotamers interconverted at 80 degrees C, with the rate increasing with temperature. An unusual N-alkylation phenomenon by alkanols in acidic medium was observed. A serum cortisol FPIA, developed using an N-alkylamino fluorescein derivative, showed good correlation with a reference RIA.