Synthesis and photophysical properties of meso-aryloxy linked BODIPY monomers, dimers, and trimer

Abstract

A series of meso-aryloxy linked BODIPY monomers, dimers and trimer were synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction from phenols with meso-chloro BODIPY and their photophysical properties were systematically studied by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The relationship between their photophysical properties and the spatial arrangement of meso-aryloxy linked BODIPYs has been discussed. The monomers exhibited different extent solvent-dependent fluorescence, and fluorescence quenching in polar solvents were found relative to the HOMO energies of the donor (meso-phenols), indicating possible PET effect from meso-phenols to the BODIPY fluorophore. Ortho-dimer showed unusual broad red-shifted emission bands centered at 550 nm with a larger Stokes shifts at the range of 2900–3400 cm[Formula: see text], and low fluorescence quantum yields, which was in sharp contrast to those of other dimers and trimer, indicating of possible excimeric species formation due to slipped cofacial arrangement ofortho-dimer.