Ausgedehnte, benzanellierte Oligo‐BODIPYs: In nur drei Schritten zu einer Serie planarer, bogenförmiger Nahinfrarot‐Farbstoffe

Tuning Shortwave-Infrared J-aggregates of Aromatic Ring-Fused Aza-BODIPYs by Peripheral Substituents for Combined Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapies at Ultralow Laser Power

Achieving photothermal therapy (PTT) at ultralow laser power density is crucial for minimizing photo-damage and allowing for higher maximum permissible skin exposure. However, this requires photothermal agents to possess not just superior photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), but also exceptional near-infrared (NIR) absorptivity. J-aggregates, exhibit a significant redshift and narrower absorption peak with a higher extinction coefficient. Nevertheless, achieving predictable J-aggregates through molecular design remains a challenge. In this study, we successfully induced desirable J-aggregation (λabs max : 968 nm, ϵ: 2.96×105  M-1  cm-1 , λem max : 972 nm, ΦFL : 6.2 %) by tuning electrostatic interactions between π-conjugated molecular planes through manipulating molecular surface electrostatic potential of aromatic ring-fused aza-BODIPY dyes. Notably, by controlling the preparation method for encapsulating dyes into F-127 polymer, we were able to selectively generate H-/J-aggregates, respectively. Furthermore, the J-aggregates exhibited two controllable morphologies: nanospheres and nanowires. Importantly, the shortwave-infrared J-aggregated nanoparticles with impressive PCE of 72.9 % effectively destroyed cancer cells and mice-tumors at an ultralow power density of 0.27 W cm-2 (915 nm). This phototherapeutic nano-platform, which generates predictable J-aggregation behavior, and can controllably form J-/H-aggregates and selectable J-aggregate morphology, is a valuable paradigm for developing photothermal agents for tumor-treatment at ultralow laser power density.

Electrochemical Diselenation of BODIPY Fluorophores for Bioimaging Applications and Sensitization of 1 O2

We report a rapid, efficient, and scope-extensive approach for the late-stage electrochemical diselenation of BODIPYs. Photophysical analyses reveal red-shifted absorption - corroborated by TD-DFT and DLPNO-STEOM-CCSD computations - and color-tunable emission with large Stokes shifts in the selenium-containing derivatives compared to their precursors. In addition, due to the presence of the heavy Se atoms, competitive ISC generates triplet states which sensitize 1 O2 and display phosphorescence in PMMA films at RT and in a frozen glass matrix at 77 K. Importantly, the selenium-containing BODIPYs demonstrate the ability to selectively stain lipid droplets, exhibiting distinct fluorescence in both green and red channels. This work highlights the potential of electrochemistry as an efficient method for synthesizing unique emission-tunable fluorophores with broad-ranging applications in bioimaging and related fields.

Anthracene-Fused Oligo-BODIPYs: A New Class of π-Extended NIR-Absorbing Materials

Large π-conjugated systems are key in the area of molecular materials. Herein, we prepare via Au^I -catalyzed cyclization a series of fully π-conjugated anthracene-fused oligo-BODIPYs. Their structural and optoelectronic properties were studied by several techniques, ranging from X-ray, UV/Vis, and cyclic voltammetry to transient absorption spectroscopy. As a complement, their electronic structures were explored by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Depending on the size and shape of the π-conjugated skeleton, unique features-such as face-to-face supramolecular organization, NIR absorption and fluorescence as well as strong electron accepting character-were noted. All in all, the aforementioned features render them valuable for technological applications.

Transforming Dyes into Fluorophores: Exciton‐Induced Emission with Chain‐like Oligo‐BODIPY Superstructures

Herein we present a systematic study demonstrating to which extent exciton formation can amplify fluorescence based on a series of ethylene‐bridged oligo‐BODIPYs. A set of non‐ and weakly fluorescent BODIPY motifs was selected and transformed into discrete, chain‐like oligomers by linkage via a flexible ethylene tether. The prepared superstructures constitute excitonically active entities with non‐conjugated, Coulomb‐coupled oscillators. The non‐radiative deactivation channels of Internal Conversion (IC), also combined with an upstream reductive Photoelectron Transfer (rPET) and Intersystem Crossing (ISC) were addressed at the monomeric state and the evolution of fluorescence and (non‐)radiative decay rates studied along the oligomeric series. We demonstrate that a “masked” fluorescence can be fully reactivated irrespective of the imposed conformational rigidity. This work challenges the paradigm that a collective fluorescence enhancement is limited to sterically induced motional restrictions.

Double π-Extended Undecabenzo[7]helicene

This work reports the first double π-extended undecabenzo[7]helicene 1, which is a large chiral nanographene, composed of 65 fused rings and 186 conjugated carbon atoms. The molecular identity of 1 has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. A wine coloured solution of 1 in dichloromethane absorbs light from ultraviolet to the near infrared, featuring an extremely large molar absorption coefficient of 844 000 M^-1  cm^-1 at 573 nm. Optically pure 1 shows a record high electronic circular dichroism intensity in the visible spectral range (|Δϵ|=1375 M^-1  cm^-1 at 430 nm) known for any discrete polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. These unusual photophysical properties of 1 contrast sharply with those of a mono-undecabenzo[7]helicene derivative 2.