Isolation, characterization and insect growth inhibitory activity of major turmeric constituents and their derivatives againstSchistocerca gregaria (Forsk) andDysdercus koenigii (Walk)
Two new curcumin derivatives, 1,7-bis(4-ethyloxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione and 1,7-bis(4-butyloxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, are conveniently synthesized. Single and two-photon fluorescence of two compounds have been investigated. The two-photon absorption cross-sections (sigma) of the two compounds were calculated by quantum chemical method, which are as high as 386 and 418 x 10(-5) cm(4) s photon(-1) in dimethyl formamide (DMF), as well as up to 475 and 563 x 10(-5) cm(4) s photon(-1) in dichloromethane, respectively. Furthermore, cellular imaging results demonstrate that the as-prepared compounds have high photostability, strong fluorescence in the red region and are nontoxic up to 40 mu mol/L, which are suitable for long-term and high-specificity immunofluorescent cellular labeling. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.