Abstract The small and synthetically easily accessible coumarinylmethyl backbone has been modified to generate a family of photolabile protecting groups with redshifted absorption. We relied on introducing electron-donating groups in the 7 position and electron-withdrawing groups in the 2-, and 2-and 3 positions. In particular, we showed that the diethylamino- thiocoumarylmethyl and the diethylamino-coumarylidenemalononitrilemethyl are relevant ...
