Amphiphilic BODIPY derivatives: the solvophobic effect on their photophysical properties and bioimaging in living cells.

Three novel amphiphilic BODIPY derivatives were prepared and their photophysical properties in THF/water mixtures with varying fractions of water were investigated. BDP-1 could self-assemble into different vesicle architectures in aqueous solution, while BDP-2 and BDP-3 with more hydrophilic abilities formed spherical and worm-like micelles. The BODIPY derivatives could be absorbed by HeLa cells and showed no apparent toxicity during the course of the test.

A ferrocene-azobenzene derivative showing unprecedented phase transition and better solubility upon UV irradiation.

The ferrocene-aspartic acid-azobenzene derivative 1 showing an unprecedented photoinduced crystal-liquid phase transition at an elevated temperature and better solubility in organic solvents has been successfully reported.