Dihydronaphthalene-Fused Boron-Dipyrromethene (BODIPY) Dyes: Insight into the Electronic and Conformational Tuning Modes of BODIPY Fluorophores

Effect of the Aza-N-Bridge and Push-Pull Moieties: A Comparative Study between BODIPYs and Aza-BODIPYs

In the field of fluorescent dyes, difluoroboron-dipyrromethenes (BODIPY) have a highly respected position. To predict their photophysical properties prior to synthesis and therefore to successfully design molecules specifically for one's needs, a solid structure-function understanding based on experimental observations is vital. This work delivers a photophysical evaluation of BODIPY and aza-BODIPY derivatives equipped with different electron-withdrawing/-donating substituents. Using combinatorial chemistry, pyrroles substituted with electron-donating/-withdrawing substituents were condensed together in two different manners, thus providing two sets of molecules. The only difference between the two sets is the bridging unit providing a so far lacking comparison between BODIPYs and aza-BODIPYs structural homologues. Replacing the meso-methine bridge with an aza-N bridge results in a red-shifted transition and considerably different, temperature-activated, excited-state relaxation pathways. The effect of electron-donating units on the absorption but not emission for BODIPYs was suppressed compared to aza-BODIPYs. This result could be evident in a substitution pattern-dependent Stokes shift. The outlook of this study is a deeper understanding of the structure-optics relationship of the (aza)-BODIPY-dye class, leading to an improvement in the de novo design of tailor-made molecules for future applications.

Near-infared upper phenyl-fused BODIPY as photosensitizer for photothermal-photodynamic therapy

BODIPY scaffolds by introducing ring-fused segment promoted bathochromic-shift spectrum and enhanced intersystem crossing capability by a twisted structure. In this work, we designed the upper phenyl-fused BODIPY with 4-dimethylaminostyryl groups...

Azadipyrromethenes: from traditional dye chemistry to leading edge applications

The journey of azadipyrromethenes from accidental dye chemistry to a compound class with widely applicable near infrared photophysical properties is documented.

A styryl-containing aza-BODIPY as a near-infrared dye

A novel styryl-containing pyrrole was developed by the reaction of E-4-phenylbut-3-en-2-one with 3-phenyl-2H-azirine in the presence of LDA. Utilizing this pyrrole, asymmetric styryl-containing aza-BODIPYs have been prepared in the NIR region as a result of the extension of conjugation.

Energy-funneling-based broadband visible-light-absorbing bodipy-C60 triads and tetrads as dual functional heavy-atom-free organic triplet photosensitizers for photocatalytic organic reactions

C60-bodipy triads and tetrads based on the energy-funneling effect that show broadband absorption in the visible region have been prepared as novel triplet photosensitizers. The new photosensitizers contain two or three different light-harvesting antennae associated with different absorption wavelengths, resulting in a broad absorption band (450-650 nm). The panchromatic excitation energy harvested by the bodipy moieties is funneled into a spin converter (C60), thus ensuring intersystem crossing and population of the triplet state. Nanosecond time-resolved transient absorption and spin density analysis indicated that the T1 state is localized on either C60 or the antennae, depending on the T1 energy levels of the two entities. The antenna-localized T1 state shows a longer lifetime (τ(T)=132.9 μs) than the C60-localized T1 state (ca. 27.4 μs). We found that the C60 triads and tetrads can be used as dual functional photocatalysts, that is, singlet oxygen ((1)O2) and superoxide radical anion (O2(.-)) photosensitizers. In the photooxidation of naphthol to juglone, the (1)O2 photosensitizing ability of the C60 triad is a factor of 8.9 greater than the conventional triplet photosensitizers tetraphenylporphyrin and methylene blue. The C60 dyads and triads were also used as photocatalysts for O2(.-)-mediated aerobic oxidation of aromatic boronic acids to produce phenols. The reaction times were greatly reduced compared with when [Ru(bpy)3Cl2] was used as photocatalyst. Our study of triplet photosensitizers has shown that broadband absorption in the visible spectral region and long-lived triplet excited states can be useful for the design of new heavy-atom-free organic triplet photosensitizers and for the application of these triplet photosensitizers in photo-organocatalysis.