STUDIES OF THE EFFICIENCY and MECHANISM OF FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING REACTIONS USING ACRYLAMIDE and SUCCINIMIDE AS QUENCHERS

Abstract Here we report data for the quenching by acrylamide and succinimide of the fluorescence of a number of simple aromatic fluorophores in aqueous solution. Acrylamide is an efficient quencher of the fluorescence of most of these aromatic fluorophores, but succinimide is less efficient for all fluorophores and shows a very crude dependence on the ionization potential of the fluorophore. When the solvent is ethanol, the quenching efficiency by acrylamide and succinimide is found to decrease for the fluorophores, indole, naphthalene, and carbazole. These studies are consistent with an electron transfer quenching mechanism for the two quenchers. Quenching parameters (by acrylamide, succinimide, and iodide) are also reported for a number of fluorescent probes commonly used in biochemical studies. In general, the efficiency of acrylamide and succinimide quenching of these probes is low in aqueous solution.