222 Cascade Blue acetyl azide, hydroxyl groups

Figure 9.38 The acetyl azide group of this Cascade Blue derivative has dual functions. It can react with amine groups to form amide bonds, or it can be converted to an isocyanate at high temperatures to couple with hydroxyl functional groups, creating a carbamate linkage.

At elevated temperatures (80°C in DMF), the acetyl azide group rearranges to form an isocyanate that can react with hydroxyl-containing molecules to form a urethane linkage (Figure 9.38). The Cascade Blue urethane derivatives of macromolecules are extremely fluorescent and can be detected down to femtogram quantities (Takadate et al., 1985). 

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