1-(Hydroxyacetyl)pyrene has been introduced as a new fluorescent phototrigger for alcohols and phenols. Alcohols and phenols were protected as their corresponding carbonate esters by coupling with fluorescent phototrigger, 1-(hydroxyacetyl)pyrene. Photophysical studies of caged carbonates showed that they all exhibited strong fluorescence properties. Irradiation of the caged carbonates by visible light (≥410 nm) in aqueous acetonitrile released the corresponding alcohols or phenols in high chemical (95–97%) and quantum (0.17–0.21) yields. The mechanism for the photorelease was proposed based on Stern–Volmer quenching experiments and solvent effect studies. Importantly, 1-(hydroxyacetyl)pyrene showed as a phototrigger for rapid photorelease of the biologically active molecule adenosine. In vitro biological studies revealed that 1-(hydroxyacetyl)pyrene has good biocompatibility, cellular uptake property and cell imaging ability.
