Three 1, 2-substituted-3, 4-dihydronaphthalenes that are pyridine analogs of the antiestrogen desmethylnafoxidine were prepared and evaluated as fluorescent ligands for the estrogen receptor. These compounds represent a class of fluorescent probes that we term “photofluorogenic”, denoting their ability to exist initially as a high affinity though weakly fluorescent stilbazole form which can be photocyclized-oxidized to a highly fluorescent ...
