Substitution of F-Bodipy with alkynylaryl residues at boron, at the pyrrolic core or at the meso position, provides unique tri-, tetra-, and pentasubstituted dyes. Substitution at the (pyrrolic) 2,6-positions provides substantial red shifts with quantum yields in the 40-90% range and excited-state lifetimes of 3-7 ns. ON/OFF fluorescence switching can be produced by protonation of dibutylamino subunits.

Supramolecular gels and liquid-crystalline materials containing borondipyrromethene (F-Bodipy) are a new class of highly luminescent materials built by attachment of long-chain alkoxydiacylamido scaffoldings to boradiazaindacene templates. Robust gels were formed in nonane, and luminescence spectroscopy was used to probe the aggregation processes of the flat indacene cores. Coincidently, columnar mesophase was obtained from the pure material over a wide temperature range, allowing textural observations by fluorescence microscopy.