Near-infrared BODIPY dyes modulated with spirofluorene moieties

New structurally constrained BODIPY dyes having electron-donating substituents were synthesized. As the key compounds for the construction of the BODIPY dyes, 1'H-spiro-[fluorene-9,4'-indeno[1,2-b] pyrrole] (sp-FIP) derivatives with electron-donating groups, such as OMe and NMe2 at its 6'-position, were prepared using palladium-catalyzed intramolecular direct C-H arylation of a pyrrole moiety. The resulting BODIPY dyes showed bathochromic shift in absorption and fluorescence spectra in comparison to the unsubstituted analogs. Furthermore, pH-dependent reversible spectrum changes of the BODIPY dye were observed with the addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and subsequent addition of i-Pr2NEt. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.