Synthesis of Functional Fluorescent BODIPY-based Dyes through Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Straightforward Approach towards Customized Fluorescent Probes

Highly regioselective α-formylation and α-acylation of BODIPY dyes via tandem cross-dehydrogenative coupling with in situ deprotection

A metal-free C-H formylation and acylation of BODIPY dyes using a variety of dioxolane derivatives as aldehyde equivalents is reported, providing a postfunctionalization method for controllable synthesis of BODIPYs with carbonyl groups at 3,5-positions via a radical process. The photophysical properties of resultant dyes from this efficient one-pot, chemo- and site-selective transformation have been studied.

Synthesis of Functional Fluorescent BODIPY-based Dyes through Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Straightforward Approach towards Customized Fluorescent Probes

Fluorescent materials are widely used in biological and material applications as probes for imaging or sensing; however, their customization is usually complicated without the support of an organic chemistry laboratory. Here, we present a straightforward method for the customization of BODIPY cores, which are among the most commonly used fluorescent probes. The method is based on the formation of a new C-C bond through Friedel-Crafts electrophilic aromatic substitution carried out at room temperature. The method presented can be used to obtain completely customized fluorescent materials in one or two steps from commercially available compounds. Examples of the preparation of fluorescent materials for cell staining and functionalization of silica colloids are also presented.