Volume 2018, Issue 20-21 p. 2561-2571
Full Paper

Synthesis and Spectroscopy of Benzylamine-Substituted BODIPYs for Bioimaging

Consuelo Ripoll

Consuelo Ripoll

Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

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Cheng Cheng

Cheng Cheng

The Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, 241000 Wuhu, China

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Emilio Garcia-Fernandez

Emilio Garcia-Fernandez

Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

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Jin Li

Jin Li

The Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, 241000 Wuhu, China

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Angel Orte

Angel Orte

Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

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Hainam Do

Hainam Do

Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 199 Taikang East Road, 315100 Ningbo, China

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Lijuan Jiao

Corresponding Author

Lijuan Jiao

The Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, 241000 Wuhu, China

The Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China

E-mail: [email protected]

http://chem.ahnu.edu.cn/7352

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David Robinson

Corresponding Author

David Robinson

Department of Chemistry and Forensics, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, United Kingdom

The Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China

E-mail: [email protected]

http://chem.ahnu.edu.cn/7352

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Luis Crovetto

Luis Crovetto

Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

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Juan A. González-Vera

Juan A. González-Vera

Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

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Eva M. Talavera

Eva M. Talavera

Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

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Jose M. Alvarez-Pez

Jose M. Alvarez-Pez

Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

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Noël Boens

Corresponding Author

Noël Boens

Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), Celestijnenlaan 200f, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

The Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China

E-mail: [email protected]

http://chem.ahnu.edu.cn/7352

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María Jose Ruedas-Rama

Corresponding Author

María Jose Ruedas-Rama

Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain

The Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China

E-mail: [email protected]

http://chem.ahnu.edu.cn/7352

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First published: 05 March 2018
Citations: 15

Graphical Abstract

New BODIPY dyes substituted with a benzylamino group have been synthesized and characterized. The position of the benzylamino group has shown a significant influence on the spectroscopic and photophysical properties, which have been explored in different solvents. The dyes have been employed as probes in the fluorescence lifetime imaging of living cells, demonstrating their high potential for bioimaging.

Abstract

Three new boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes substituted with a benzylamino group at the 3-position have been synthesized from halogenated BODIPYs by nucleophilic substitution. The spectroscopic and photophysical properties have been explored in different solvents and have been compared with an analogous 8-benzylaminoBODIPY derivative. The position of the benzylamino group has a significant influence on the spectral band positions, fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence lifetimes. The 8-benzylaminoBODIPY emits in the blue range, whereas the 3-substituted shows green fluorescence. Additionally, the extension of the conjugation at the 5-position of 3-benzylaminoBODIPY produces a bathochromic shift of the absorption and emission spectra. The effect of solvents on their spectroscopic features has been investigated using the generalized Catalán solvent scales. Quantum-chemical calculations have been performed to assess the effect of the position of the substitution on the spectroscopic properties. Finally, the BODIPY dyes have been employed as probes in fluorescence lifetime imaging of living cells, demonstrating their high potential for bioimaging.