Synthesis and characterization of cell-permeable caged phosphates that can be photolyzed by visible light or 800 nm two-photon photolysis.

We report the synthesis and photolytic properties of caged inorganic phosphates (Pi compounds) based on the 2-(4'-{bis[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amino}-4-nitro-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)propan-1-ol (EANBP) and 7-(diethylamino)coumarin-4-yl]methyl (DEACM) protecting groups. The EANBP-Pi showed unprecedented photolysis efficiency at 405 nm, with 95 % release of free phosphate and a quantum yield of 0.28. Thanks to the high two-photon sensitivity of the EANBP chromophore, Pi release through two-photon photolysis is also possible, with an action cross section of 20.5 GM at 800 nm. Two bioactivatable acetoxymethyl protection groups were added to the "caged-Pi" compounds. The resulting triesters of phosphoric acid were able to diffuse through the cellular membranes of plant cells. Once inside a cell, the cleavage of these biocleavable motifs by intracellular esterases allows intracellular accumulation of EANBP-Pi. Bis(AM)-EANBP-Pi therefore represents a very attractive tool for study of the Pi signal transduction cascade in living cells.