Synthesis of a pentathiophene fluorescent probe, 4’,3’’’-bis-carboxymethyl-[2,2’;5’,2’’;5’’,2’’’;5’’’,2’’’‘]quinquethiophene-5,5’

Poly and oligo-thiophenes have previously been used for in vitro (1,2), ex vivo (3,4) and in vivo (5) imaging of protein aggregates. The probe (p-FTAA) has been developed for the purpose of in vivo staining of protein aggregates such as amyloid deposits. It effectively passes the blood brain barrier and imaging can be performed live with two-photon imaging or ex vivo (5).