Solvatochromic Sensitivity of BODIPY Probes: A New Tool for Selecting Fluorophores and Polarity Mapping

Abstract

This research work is devoted to collecting a high-quality dataset of BODIPYs in a series of 10–30 solvents. In total, 115 individual compounds in 71 solvents are represented by 1698 arrays of the spectral and photophysical properties of the fluorophore. Each dye for a series of solvents is characterized by a calculated value of solvatochromic sensitivity according to a semiempirical approach applied to a series of solvents. The whole dataset is classified into 6 and 24 clusters of solvatochromic sensitivity, from high negative to high positive solvatochromism. The results of the analysis are visualized by the polarity mapping plots depicting, in terms of wavenumbers, the absorption versus emission, stokes shift versus − (absorption maxima + emission maxima), and quantum yield versus stokes shift. An analysis of the clusters combining several dyes in an individual series of solvents shows that dyes of a high solvatochromic sensitivity demonstrate regular behaviour of the corresponding plots suitable for polarity and viscosity mapping. The fluorophores collected in this study represent a high quality dataset of pattern dyes for analytical and bioanalytical applications. The developed tools could be applied for the analysis of the applicability domain of the fluorescent sensors.