Merocyanines are a class of polymethine dyes which are clearly defined by set structural properties. Merycyanines belong to the group of dyes referred to as functional dyes, where their applications are not only determined by their colour, but also their valuable chemical properties. These dyes are usually intensely colored and have large extinction coefficients. Merocyanine 540 was the first fluorescent dye used for measuring

membrane potential Membrane potential (also transmembrane potential or membrane voltage) is the difference in electric potential between the interior and the exterior of a biological cell. That is, there is a difference in the energy required for electric charges ...

, while

Brooker's merocyanine Brooker's merocyanine (1-methyl-4- oxocyclohexadienylidene)ethylidene1,4-dihydropyridine, MOED) is an organic dye belonging to the class of merocyanines. MOED is notable for its solvatochromic properties, meaning it changes color depending on ...

and related compounds are notable for their solvatochromatic properties. :

Definition

:Conventionally, merocyanine class includes streptocyanines and their analogues where both the nitrogen atom and carbonyl group (or any other electron-withdrawing group containing a multiple carbon-heteroatomic bond, e.g. amino group) can form part of a heterocyclic system. Like ionic

cyanines Cyanines, also referred to as tetramethylindo(di)-carbocyanines are a synthetic dye family belonging to the polymethine group. Although the name derives etymologically from terms for shades of blue, the cyanine family covers the electromagnetic s ...

, merocyanines contain two terminal heteroatoms and a

polymethine Polymethines are compounds made up from an ''odd'' number of methine groups (CH) bound together by alternating single and double bonds.Kachovski and Dekhtyar, ''Dyes and Pigments'', 22 (1983) 83-97. Compounds made up from an ''even'' number of meth ...

chain in their

chromophores A chromophore is the part of a molecule responsible for its color. The color that is seen by our eyes is the one not absorbed by the reflecting object within a certain wavelength spectrum of visible light. The chromophore is a region in the molec ...

References

Cyanine dyes Benzoxazoles Lactams Sulfonates Thiobarbiturates Butyl compounds {{heterocyclic-stub

Definition

See also

References