Fully Conjugated Pyrene-BODIPY and Pyrene-BODIPY-Ferrocene Dyads and Triads: Synthesis, Characterization, and Selective Noncovalent Interactions with Nanocarbon Materials.

Several pyrene-boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) and pyrene-BODIPY-ferrocene derivatives with a fully conjugated pyrene fragment appended to the α-position(s) of the BODIPY core have been prepared by Knoevenagel condensation reaction and characterized by one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), UV-vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry as well as X-ray crystallography. The redox properties of new donor-acceptor BODIPY dyads and triads were studied by electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV)) and spectroelectrochemical approaches. Formation of weakly bonded noncovalent complexes between the new pyrene-BODIPYs and nanocarbon materials (C, C, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), and graphene) was studied by UV-vis, steady-state fluorescent, and time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy.

Preparation of Viscosity-Sensitive Isoxazoline/Isoxazolyl-Based Molecular Rotors and Directly Linked BODIPY-Fulleroisoxazoline from the Stable -(Nitrile Oxide)-Substituted BODIPY.

We developed a simple methodology for the preparation of stable -(nitrile oxide)-substituted BODIPYs, which were characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. These compounds were used for the preparation of isoxazoline- or isoxazolyl-BODIPYs by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with dipolarophiles. Several BODIPYs possess molecular rotor behavior, including viscosity-dependent fluorescence.

Solvatochromic Near-Infrared Probe for Polarity Mapping of Biomembranes and Lipid Droplets in Cells under Stress.

Can polarity-sensitive fluorescent dyes monitor the response of live cells to fundamental stress conditions, such as deprivation from nutrition and oxidative stress? To address this question, we developed a push-pull dioxaborine probe (DXB-NIR) for biomembranes and lipid droplets featuring strong solvatochromism in the far-red to near-infrared region, high fluorescence brightness, photostability, and two-photon absorption cross section, reaching 13800 GM at 930 nm. In model membranes, DXB-NIR exhibits unprecedented 80 nm shift between liquid ordered and disordered membrane phases, allowing robust imaging of separated membrane microdomains. Two-color imaging of live cells with DXB-NIR enables polarity mapping in plasma membranes, endoplasmic reticulum, and lipid droplets, which reveals that starvation and oxidative stress produce an increase in the local polarity, and this change is different for each of the studied cell compartments.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Electron-Transfer Properties of Ferrocene-BODIPY-Fullerene Near-Infrared-Absorbing Triads: Are Catecholopyrrolidine-Linked Fullerenes a Good Architecture to Facilitate Electron-Transfer?

A series of covalent ferrocene-BODIPY-fullerene triads with the ferrocene groups conjugated to the BODIPY π-system and the fullerene acceptor linked at the boron hub by a common catecholpyrrolidine bridge were prepared and characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, UV/Vis, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and, for one of the derivatives, X-ray crystallography. Redox processes of the new compounds were investigated by electrochemical (CV and DPV) methods and spectroelectrochemistry. DFT calculations indicate that the HOMO in all triads was delocalized between ferrocene and BODIPY π-system, the LUMO was always fullerene-centered, and the catechol-centered occupied orbital was close in energy to the HOMO.

Flexible BODIPY Platform That Offers an Unexpected Regioselective Heterocyclization Reaction toward Preparation of 2-Pyridone[ a]-Fused BODIPYs.

We have explored the synthetic routes for regioselective formation of 2-pyridone[ a]- and 2-pyridone[ b]-fused BODIPYs using 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,6-dicarbethoxy-BODIPY as the universal starting platform. While heterocyclization of the 3-(dimethylaminovinyl)-BODIPY and 3,5-bis(dimethylaminovinyl)-BODIPY results in the formation of mono-2-pyridone- and bis-2-pyridone[ b]-fused BODIPYs, respectively, similar heterocyclization of the 1,3-bis(dimethylaminovinyl)-BODIPY leads to the regioselective formation of the 2-pyridone[ a]-fused BODIPY core, which is the first example of heterocycle[ a]-fused BODIPYs. The regioselective formation of the 2-pyridone[ a]-fused BODIPY was further confirmed by X-ray crystallography and explained on the basis of the DFT and TDDFT calculations that are suggestive of the energy-favorable out-of-plane rotation of the dimethylaminovinyl group located at first position, which accelerates the reaction with n-butylamine.

Ferrocene-BODIPYmerocyanine dyads: new NIR absorbing platforms with optical properties susceptible to protonation.

Ferrocene-BODIPYmerocyanine dyads 5 and 6 were prepared and characterized by a variety of spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical methods. Experimental and theoretical data on these NIR absorbing compounds are suggestive of unusual susceptibility (for BODIPY chromophores) of the delocalized π-system in 5 and 6 to protonation and low-potential oxidation of their π-systems.

Push-pull dioxaborine as fluorescent molecular rotor: far-red fluorogenic probe for ligand-receptor interactions.

Fluorescent solvatochromic dyes and molecular rotors increase their popularity as fluorogenic probes for background-free detection of biomolecules in no-wash conditions. Here, we introduce a push-pull boron-containing (dioxaborine) dye that presents unique spectroscopic behavior combining solvatochromism and molecular rotor properties. Indeed, in organic solvents, it shows strong red shifts in the absorption and fluorescence spectra upon increase in solvent polarity, typical for push-pull dyes.

NIR absorbing diferrocene-containing meso-cyano-BODIPY with a UV-Vis-NIR spectrum remarkably close to that of magnesium tetracyanotetraferrocenyltetraazaporphyrin.

Diferrocene-containing meso-cyano-BODIPY (4) was prepared by the direct cyanation/oxidation reaction of symmetric BODIPY 1 followed by Knoevenagel condensation with ferrocenealdehyde. Ferrocene-containing BODIPY 4 was characterized by a variety of spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical methods and its UV-Vis-NIR spectrum has a striking similarity with a UV-Vis-NIR spectrum of the previously reported magnesium 2(3),7(8),12(13),17(18)-tetracyano-3(2),8(7),13(12),18(17)-tetraferrocenyl-5,10,15,20-tetraazaporphyrin.

Tuning Electronic Structure, Redox, and Photophysical Properties in Asymmetric NIR-Absorbing Organometallic BODIPYs.

Stepwise modification of the methyl groups at the α positions of BODIPY 1 was used for preparation of a series of mono- (2, 4, and 6) and diferrocene (3) substituted donor-acceptor dyads in which the organometallic substituents are fully conjugated with the BODIPY π system. All donor-acceptor complexes have strong absorption in the NIR region and quenched steady-state fluorescence, which can be partially restored upon oxidation of organometallic group(s). X-ray crystallography of complexes 2-4 and 6 confirms the nearly coplanar arrangement of the ferrocene groups and the BODIPY π system.

3,5-Bis(acetaldehyde) substituted BODIPY.

Two versions of a facile and efficient synthetic approach to 3,5-bis(acetaldehyde) substituted BODIPY have been developed and this compound has been used to obtain, in high yields, a variety of 3,5-divinyl BODIPY derivatives (vinylacetates, enamines, vinyl chlorides, and some multiple-functionalized products). As shown, vinyl substituents have an additive effect on the position of the BODIPY absorption maximum. The dyes synthesized are quite stable and exhibit intense absorption and fluorescence with wavelengths longer than 600 nm.

Two-Photon Absorption Spectrum of a Single Crystal Cyanine-like Dye.

The two-photon absorption (2PA) spectrum of an organic single crystal is reported. The crystal is grown by self-nucleation of a subsaturated hot solution of acetonitrile, and is composed of an asymmetrical donor-π-acceptor cyanine-like dye molecule. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the 2PA spectrum of single crystals made from a cyanine-like dye.

Efficient two-photon absorbing acceptor-pi-acceptor polymethine dyes.

We present an experimental and theoretical investigation of the linear and nonlinear optical properties of a series of acceptor-pi-acceptor symmetrical anionic polymethine dyes with diethylamino-coumarin-dioxaborine terminal groups and different conjugation lengths. Two-photon absorption (2PA) cross sections (delta(2PA)) are enhanced with an increase of pi-conjugation length in the investigated series of dyes. 2PA spectra for all dyes consist of two well-separated bands.