ORGN 363

From muscle contraction to cell division, calcium ions are essential in physiological processes. Calcium ion, as a second messenger, is released in an oscillatory manner in some cell types. These oscillations can trigger a series of cellular responses. In order to study this process, a molecule that can mimic calcium oscillations by selectively binding and releasing calcium ions in response to light will be synthesized. Molecule 1 (R₁=CH_3,R₂=H,R₃=N(CH₂CO₂^-)₂) was designed for this purpose, but was found to be non-photochromic. To improve photochromic properties of this molecule, the effects of   substituents were examined. The molecules with R₁=H, CH₃, and Ph, and R₂ or R₃=OCH₃, NO₂ and H were synthesized. The effect of UV irradiation of these compounds at low temperature in methanol on the UV-VIS spectrum will be presented. This data will be used to improve the design of photoreversible calcium ion binder.