Rapid Excited-State Deactivation of BODIPY Derivatives by a Boron-Bound Catechol

The excited-state dynamics and energetics of a series of BODIPY-derived chromophores bound to a catechol at the boron position were investigated with a combination of static and time-resolved spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and density functional theory calculations. Compared with the difluoro-BODIPY-derived parent compounds, the addition of the catechol at the boron reduced the excited-state lifetime by three orders of magnitude. Deactivation of the excited state proceeded through an intermediate charge-transfer state accessed from the initial optically excited π* state in