Crystalline heaviest pnictogen-dipyrromethenes: isolation, characterization, and reactivity

Synthesis and optical properties of antimony(V) complexes of a trianionic N2O2-type tetradentate dipyrrin ligand

LSbCl2, an air- and moisture-stable antimony(V)-dipyrrin complex at room temperature, was obtained by treating an excess amount (20 eq.) of SbCl3 with a trianionic N2O2-type tetradentate dipyrrin ligand (L) under visible-light irradiation and O2 atmosphere. The Cl ligands in LSbCl2 were replaced by OH ligands via hydrolysis, yielding LSb(OH)2. Further, the molecular structures and optical properties of the Sb(V)-dippyrin complexes were investigated. While LSbCl2 was non-fluorescent, LSb(OH)2 exhibited an intense red fluorescence with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 68%.

Easy access to strongly fluorescent higher homologues of BODIPY

We present the easy and high yield synthesis of several group 13 MesDPM compounds (Al-In) with alkyl substituents at the metal atom. All these compounds were fully characterized using techniques including X-ray diffraction analysis and photoluminescence measurements. It shows that for aluminium and gallium pronounced green fluorescence is observed, which is absent for indium. DFT calculations confirm that the first electronic transition corresponds to a ligand-based π-π* transition.

Replacing the BO in BODIPY: unlocking the path to SBDIPY and BIDIPY chromophores

Boron-based dipyrrin chromophores (BODIPY) have found widespread application over the last twenty years in fields as diverse as medicine and materials. Thus, several efforts have been placed to exchange boron with other elements, with the aim of developing materials with complementary luminescent properties. However, despite these attempts, the incorporation of other main-group elements in dipyrrin scaffolds remains still rare. We have successfully synthesized and characterized novel chromophores based on antimony and bismuth, SBDIPY and BIDIPY. Solution stabilities have been investigated by VT-UV/vis spectroscopy and the fluorescence emission studied and supported by computational analysis. We were also able to isolate the first direct analogue of BODIPY containing fluoride handles, disclosing preliminary luminescent features.