Boron Dipirrins: Mechanism of Formation, Spectral and Photophysical Properties, and Directions of Functionalization

Boron dipyrrins (Bodipy) are unique complexes occupying an intermediate position between classical coordination and organometallic compounds. The enormous interest of researchers from all over the world to the compounds of this class has by now provided an endless stream of publications that requires generalization. Existing reviews and original publications do not fully cover the structural diversity of Bodipy and their possible applications in engineering, medicine, analytical chemistry, optics, photonics, etc. In this paper, w e present the results, mainly of our own research, which for the first time allowed us to establish the physicochemical principles of the formation of Bodipy (the reasons for the low rates of complexation of ligands with boron trifluoride), changes in the spectral and photophysical properties of alkylated Bodipy complexes with the separation of contributions from universal and specific solvation, and examples of functionalization of inorganic and organic polymer materials based on Bodipy of different structures. Examples of the current team’s Bodipy research in different practical areas are presented.