The role of the amino group twisting ability in the BODIPY photophysics for nonsterically hindered and constrained molecular structures was studied. When a coplanar disposition of the amino and the BODIPY core is feasible, a hemicyanine-like delocalized π-system gives rise to novel blue and efficient BODIPY laser dyes. The key role of such rotamer is confirmed by newly synthesized derivatives where the amino and the BODIPY core are electronically decoupled by steric repulsions.

We demonstrate herein that both alcohols and phenols can be tagged with a BODIPY (borondipyrromethene) moiety to yield highly fluorescent products. Thus, 8-(methylthio)-BODIPY (1) undergoes an S(N)Ar-type reaction with a host of alcohols and phenols in the presence of a base and a Cu(I) additive. The BODIPY dyes bearing alkoxy or nonfunctionalized phenoxy moieties are characterized by a highly efficient fluorescence emission, regardless of the media, in the blue-green part of the visible region. Complementary to this, the presence of electron-donor groups at the aryl ring leads to an intramolecular charge-transfer process, which quenches the fluorescence mainly in polar media. In addition to simple alcohols and phenols, four natural products (eugenol, menthol, cholesterol, and estrone) were labeled in a simple fashion. X-ray structures of the cholesterol and estrone derivatives are discussed. In fact, the BODIPY bearing cholesterol stands out as a bright fluorescence biological marker.

A thorough study of the photophysical and laser properties of 8-aminoboron dipyrromethene dyes was undertaken to determine the role of amine substitution and spatial disposition on the properties of the dyes. It was found that the fluorescent and laser response varied significantly. Although primary amines give rise to highly fluorescent products at the blue edge of the visible region, secondary amines yield nonfluorescent analogues in polar media. The crystal structures of two analogues are reported and described. Steric hindrance and the higher electron-releasing ability of the amine favor the formation of a quenching intramolecular charge-transfer state. Accordingly, boron dipyrromethene derivatives with primary amines exhibited laser emission with efficiencies of up to 44%. Besides, the more efficient derivative was also the most photostable, leading to a significant improvement in the lasing performance with regard to previously reported 8-aminoboron dipyrromethene derivatives. An increase in the solvent polarity, and mainly the presence of tertiary cyclic amines, led to a dramatic decrease or even the loss of the laser action.

Several new examples of meso-(het)arylBODIPY were prepared via the Liebeskind-Srogl (L-S) cross-coupling reaction of the Biellmann BODIPYs (1a,b) and aryl- and heteroarylboronic acids in good to excellent yield. It was shown that this reaction could be carried out under microwave heating to shorten reaction times and/or increase the yield. It was illustrated that organostannanes also participate in the L-S reaction to give the corresponding BODIPY analogues in short reaction times and also with good to excellent yields. We analyze the role of the substituent at the sensitive meso position in the photophysical signatures of these compounds. In particular, the rotational motion of the aryl ring and the electron donor ability of the anchored moieties rule the nonradiative pathways and, hence, have a deep impact in the fluorescence efficiency.

A BODIPY-fluorophore based probe (1-BODIPY) for compound 1 was developed and investigated for its potential as in vivo tracer.