Synthesis and photoluminescent properties of new cationic carbazole-containing luminophores

The synthesis of a series of new π-conjugated amphiphilic derivatives of carbazole of the "stilbene" type, substituted with N-alkylpyridinium groups at positions 2 and 7, is described. Due to the presence of polar cationic groups and nonpolar alkyl substituents, the obtained compounds are potentially capable of acting as agents for the transportation of genetic material inside a cell, and the extended and effective conjugation chain leads to the appearance of intense photoluminescence both in solutions and in biological media, making it possible to use them as cell probes. The absorption maxima of the compounds are in the region of 422-450 nm, while the luminescence maxima are in the yellow-green region at 575-617 nm.