#fluorescense

There was a reaction what produced an intense fluorescent side product what I purified by column chromatography a week ago. After the purification I ended up with this oil what looks like this under UV light. It is simply fascinating, it looks adorable, or at least I think this about this small flask with the few mg of purified compound in it.

Column chromatography of a small part of the previously done reaction. The test tubes and the column looks like I've been purifying fluorescein if it is viewed under UV light.

Something strange happened here. The compound what I started from fluoresces with a deep green color and the compound what I am making fluoresces under UV light with a deep blue color and not this intense yellowish-green color. Conclusion: a side reaction happened and according to the TLC something went really wrong.

A reaction product under UV light.

A solution of ditosyl erythritol under UV light. As the reaction completes the green color should fade, since it is caused by the not yet reacted ditosyl compound. 

One of the most simple tests to show an organic compound present in a reaction mixture is irradiating the sample with UV light. If you know, that the product of the reaction should fluorescence blue, while the starting materials do not emit any light after irradiating the sample with UV, could help a lot while doing a reaction. 

In this case a side product formed from the reaction above 130 °C, while the desired product formed at 100 °C. The starting material and the product did not emit any light under UV, while the side product did. So after taking the picture, I was sure, that the reaction is ready.

Have You seen my portfolio? It’s over here: http://labphoto.tumblr.com/tagged/portfolio