Trapped photochromes and thermochromes and uses for chromogenic detection, including detection of airborne contaminants
OwnerJ. Ippolitiinventor
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods of making a trapped chromogenic compound (including photochromic and thermochromic compounds) by causing an open form of the chromogenic compound and a compound comprising an electrophilic moiety to be covalently bonded. In a preferred embodiment, the trapped, open, chromogenic compound includes an ester moiety derived from ingredients including an oxygen atom of an open pyran moiety and an acyl functional compound. The present invention also relates to trapped, open, chromogenic compounds and methods of using them. Preferred methods of using such compounds include methods of detecting biological molecules and/or toxic chemicals.
Claims28
A method of making a trapped chromogenic compound comprising the step of causing an open form of a chromogenic compound and a compound comprising an electrophilic moiety to be covalently bonded.
A photochromic compound trapped in an open configuration and having the following structure:
- Z-W—R
- wherein Z is derived from ingredients comprising any photochomic compound including a pyran moiety and Z is present in a configuration in which the pyran moiety is open, W is a single bond or a divalent linking group linked to the open pyran moiety, and R is at least a portion of the residue of a compound comprising an electrophilic moiety.
A method for detecting the presence of a toxic chemical in a sample comprising:
- (a) contacting the sample with a photochromic compound capable of being trapped into an open configuration via covalent bonding with the toxic chemical;
- and
- (b) visually observing the photochromic compound for a change in color.
A method of providing a detection molecule comprising the steps of determining information indicative of the rate at which an untrapped, open chromophore reverts to a closed configuration;
- and using the information to make a trapped open chromophore having a desired calorimetric rate of response in a detecting application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.