Nir mono and bi 2-vinylthiophene substituted boron dipyrrin dyes: from practice to theory to further practice

Boron dipyrrin (BODIPY) family is one of the most studied collection of fluorophores, many of which are specifically designed for vital medical uses, such as cell imaging. In this research area, near-infrared absorbing and emitting compounds play the key role. Because of their long wavelength of absorption, they can be effectively excited by taking advantage of therapeutic window of human tissues. Herein we report the repeat of the synthesis of two vinylthiophene-substituted derivatives with extended π-electron systems and their computational investigation. Those dyes were prepared starting from methyl-substituted ones via addition reaction of aldehyde-containing thiophene following the literature. Obtained experimental and theoretical data will allow us to design promising tools not only for cell imaging, but also for fluorescent detection of heavy cations via coordination and possibly more.