Chiral indole intermediates and their fluorescent cyanine dyes containing functional groups

1. A compound of the following general formula (XIII)

wherein R a , R c , R d and R f are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and —SO 3 − ;

R b is selected from V or L-V, where L is a bond or C 1-22 straight or branched alkyl, optionally containing 0, 1 or 2 unsaturations or unsaturated pendent or interchain groups selected from alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl groups; and V is selected from hydrogen, —SO 3 − , —COOH and a reactive group;

R e is hydrogen;

T is

wherein each L and V are independently as defined above;

Y is selected from the group consisting of O, S, —CH═CH—, >C(CH 3 ) 2 , and

wherein each L and V are independently as defined above;

Z a and Z b are, independently, fused

n is an integer from 1-4; and p, u, v and r are independently an integer from 0-4, wherein at least one group -L-V in groups T and/or Y is a substituted alkyl group.

2. A compound of the following general formula (XIII)

wherein R a , R c , R d and R f are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and —SO 3 − ;

R b is selected from V or L-V, where L is a bond or C 1-22 straight or branched alkyl, optionally containing 0, 1 or 2 unsaturations or unsaturated pendent or interchain groups selected from alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl groups; and V is selected from hydrogen, —SO 3 − , —COOH and a reactive group;

R e is hydrogen;

T is

wherein each L and V are independently as defined above;

Y is selected from the group consisting of O, S, —CH═CH, <C(CH 3 ) 2 , and

wherein each L and V are independently as defined above;

Z a and Z b are, independently, fused

n is an integer from 1-4; and p, u, v and r are independently an integer from 0-4, wherein said at least one group -L-V in groups T and/or Y is selected from a carboxyalkyl group, a sulfoalkyl group and a reactive group.

3. A compound of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said reactive group is selected from:

where n is an integer of 1-10, and Q and W are leaving groups.

4. A method for detecting acidic or basic conditions comprising contacting a compound according to claim 1 or claim 2 with a composition suspected of being acidic or basic and detecting the fluorescence of said compound as an indicator of said acidic or basic conditions.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said composition comprises an intracellular environment.

6. A compound selected from the group consisting of:

i) 2-{(1E,3E,5E)-5-[3-(5-carboxypentyl)-3-methyl-5-sulfo-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ylidene]penta-1,3-dienyl}-3,3-dimethyl-5-sulfo-1-(4-sulfobutyl)-3H-indolium;

ii) 3-(5-carboxypentyl)-2-[(1E,3E,5E)-5-(5,7-dichloro-3,3-dimethyl-1,3-dihydro -2H-indol-2-ylidene)penta-1,3-dienyl]-3-methyl-5-sulfo-1-(4-sulfobutyl)-3H-indolium;

iii) 2-{(1E,3E,5E)-5-[3-(5-carboxypentyl)-3-methyl-5-sulfo-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ylidene]penta-1,3-dienyl}-5-chloro-3,3-dimethyl-1-(4-sulfobutyl)-3H-indolium;

iv) 3-(5-carboxypentyl)-2-[(1E,3E,5E)-5-(7-chloro-3,3-dimethyl-5-sulfo- 1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ylidene)penta-1,3-dienyl]-3-methyl-5-sulfo-1 -(4-sulfobutyl)-3H -indolium; and

v) 3-(5-carboxypentyl)-3-methyl-2-{(1E,3E,5E)-5-[3-methyl-5-sulfo-3-(4-sulfobutyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ylidene]penta-1,3-dienyl}-5-sulfo-1-(4-sulfobutyl)-3H -indolium.

7. A method for labelling and detecting a component of an aqueous liquid comprising:

a) adding to said liquid containing said component a compound of claim 1 or claim 2 which compound is reactive with said component;

b) reacting said compound with said component so that said compound becomes bound to and thereby labels said component; and

c) detecting said labeled component by an optical method.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said component is selected from any one of an antibody, protein, peptide, enzyme substrate, hormone, lymphokine, metabolite, receptor, antigen, hapten, lectin, avidin, streptavidin, toxin, carbohydrate, oligosaccharide, polysaccharide, nucleic acid, derivatized deoxy nucleic acid, DNA fragment, RNA fragment, derivatized DNA fragment, derivatized RNA fragment, nucleoside, nucleotide, natural drug, synthetic drug, virus particle, bacterial particle, virus component, yeast component, blood cell, blood cell component, plasma component, serum component, biological cell, noncellular blood component, bacteria, bacterial component, natural or synthetic lipid vesicle, poison, environmental pollutant, polymer, polymer particle, glass particle, glass surface, plastic particle, plastic surface, polymer membrane, conductor or semiconductor.

9. A compound of claim 3 wherein Q and W are independently selected from the group consisting of l, Br and Cl.