Redox photochemistry of thiouredopyrenetrisulfonate

1-Thiouredopyrene-3,6,8-trisulfonate (TUPS) has recently been used as a photoinduced covalent redox label capable of reducing various cofactors of proteins. A new reaction of this dye, whereby its excited triplet state oxidizes suitable electron donors, is now reported. The characteristic difference spectrum of the reduced radical of TUPS is determined. We also observe the self-exchange electron transfer between two TUPS molecules in their triplet excited states and determine the reaction scheme and the rate constants of the various pathways in the process of triplet depletion. The ability of photoexcited TUPS to withdraw an electron from reduced cytochrome-c is also observed. It is thus demonstrated that TUPS is an appropriate photoinduced covalent redox label for initiating both the oxidative and reductive phases of electron transfer processes in biological macromolecules.