Styrylpyridinium Derivatives for Fluorescent Cell Imaging.

A set of styrylpyridinium (SP) compounds was synthesised in order to study their spectroscopic and cell labelling properties. The compounds comprised different electron donating parts (julolidine, -dimethylaminophenyl, -methoxyphenyl, 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl), conjugated linkers (vinyl, divinyl), and an electron-withdrawing -alkylpyridinium part. Geminal or -compounds incorporating two styrylpyridinium (-SP) moieties at the 1,3-trimethylene unit were synthesised.