Benzo[c,d]indole-Containing Aza-BODIPY Dyes: Asymmetrization-Induced Solid-State Emission and Aggregation-Induced Emission Enhancement as New Properties of a Well-Known Chromophore

A series of symmetric and asymmetric benzo[c,d]indole‐containing aza boron dipyrromethene (aza‐BODIPY) compounds was synthesized by a titanium tetrachloride‐mediated Schiff‐base formation reaction of commercially available benzo[c,d]indole‐2(1H)‐one and heteroaromatic amines. These aza‐BODIPY analogues show different electronic structures from those of regular aza‐BODIPYs, with hypsochromic shifts of the main absorption compared to their BODIPY counterparts. In addition to the intense fluorescence in solution, asymmetric compounds exhibited solid‐state fluorescence due to significant contribution of the vibronic bands to both absorption and fluorescence as well as reduced fluorescence quenching in the aggregates. Finally, aggregation‐induced emission enhancement, which is rare in BODIPY chromophores, was achieved by introducing a nonconjugated moiety into the core structure. Old dyes with new tricks: A series of symmetric and asymmetric benzo[c,d]indole‐containing aza‐BODIPY dyes were synthesized. In addition to the hypsochromic shift of absorption and fluorescence compared to their BODIPY counterparts, solid‐state fluorescence through asymmetrization and aggregation‐induced emission enhancement through introduction of a nonconjugated moiety into the core structure were achieved (see figure).