Effect of the Aza-N-Bridge and Push-Pull Moieties: A Comparative Study between BODIPYs and Aza-BODIPYs.
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Schäfer C, Mony J, Olsson T, Börjesson K
J. Org. Chem. 87 (5) 2569-2579 [2022-03-04; online 2022-02-21]
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.
PubMed 35188769
DOI 10.1021/acs.joc.1c02525
Crossref 10.1021/acs.joc.1c02525