New reactions, functional compounds, and materials in the series of coumarin and its analogs

Data on the development of new functional compounds and materials based on the study of the reactions of coumarin and its analogs are generalized. Since coumarin derivatives are characterized by enhanced photochemically activity, special attention is given to the synthesis of photosensitive compounds and materials with intense fluorescence, including the structures capable of changing fluorescence under the action of various factors: solvent, pH of the medium, and interaction with bioorganic substrates. Pathways for design of fluorescent polymethine dyes, fluorescent labels for proteins, fluorescent photochromes, and photoacids for optical data storage with fluorescence read-out are reviewed. The role of isomerization transformations of the new compounds in their sensorial effects is established.