Straightforward synthetic protocol for the introduction of stabilized C nucleophiles in the BODIPY core for advanced sensing and photonic applications

A straightforward synthetic protocol to directly incorporate stabilized 1,3-dicarbonyl C nucleophiles to the meso position of BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene) is reported. Soft nucleophiles generated by deprotonation of 1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives smoothly displace the 8-methylthio group from 8-(methylthio)BODIPY analogues in the presence of Cu(I) thiophenecarboxylate in stoichiometric amounts at room temperature. Seven highly fluorescent new derivatives are prepared with varying yields (20-92%) in short reaction times (5-30 min). The excellent photophysical properties of the new dyes allow focusing on applications never analyzed before for BODIPYs substituted with stabilized C nucleophiles such as pH sensors and lasers in liquid and solid state, highlighting the relevance of the synthetic protocol described in the present work. The attainment of these dyes, with strong UV absorption and highly efficient and stable laser emission in the green spectral region, concerns to one of the greatest challenges in the ongoing development of advanced photonic materials with relevant applications. In fact, organic dyes with emission in the green are the only ones that allow, by frequency-doubling processes, the generation of tunable ultraviolet (250-350 nm) radiation, with ultra-short pulses.