tiopentál

Tiopentál is a synthetic organic molecule first described in the early 2020s by a collaborative research group at the University of Iberhart. It is chemically designated as 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl 3,4-dihydro-1,2,4-oxadiazole, and it is notable for its high fluorescence quantum yield and photostability under UV irradiation.

The molecule contains a central benzyl core substituted with a trifluoromethyl group, which enhances electron withdrawing properties and contributes to its blue–green emission. The heterocyclic oxadiazole ring is fused to a dihydropyrimidine moiety, a structure that is uncommon in commercial fluorophores. Tiopentál dissolves readily in dimethyl sulfoxide and cultured in 2–4 percent ethanol for laboratory studies. Its spectral peak lies at 485 nm when excited at 360 nm, with a lifetime of approximately 6 ns in aqueous buffer.

Initial synthesis involved a palladium-catalysed cross-coupling of a bromodihydroxybenzyl precursor with a trifluoromethyl anion, followed by cyclisation with isocyanate reagents. The compound quickly attracted interest for use in bioimaging, as its emission wavelength falls within the optical window for deep tissue imaging.

Recent investigations by the Berlin Institute of Photonics have employed tiopentál derivates as sensitizers in perovskite solar cells, reporting improved charge‑transfer dynamics and reduced hysteresis. The compound is also being evaluated as a phosphorescent additive in OLED manufacturing to increase device lifespan. Further research is focused on red-shifted analogs with greater tissue penetration and on integrating tiopentál frameworks into polymeric materials for flexible electronics.