Abstract New fluorescent succinimidyl benzazole derivatives were synthesised and successfully used to stain Candida albicans ATCC 10231 cells. The dyes were characterised by means of infrared, 13 C and 1 H NMR spectroscopies and elemental analysis. UV–Vis and steady-state fluorescence in solution were also applied to characterise their photophysical behaviour. The novel dyes were fluorescent in the yellow–green ...