Betalainic amides and esters: preparation and photophysical properties

• Grant number: 14/16608-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2014
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Erick Leite Bastos
• Grantee: Luiza Rodrigues Neder Issa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This undergraduate research project proposes the conversion of carboxylic portions of betalains in amides and esters as well as the determination of the effect of structural change on the photophysical properties and thermal stability of betalains. Two model betalains were selected: betanin (Bn), a non-toxic and water-soluble pigment obtained from the red beet, and betacoumarin-120 (Btc-120) a semisynthetic betalaine used as a fluorescent probe in quantification of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum. The preparations will be carried out using three amines and two alcohols and two different carbodiimides will be used as coupling agents.