Simple, general, and efficient synthesis of meso-substituted borondipyrromethenes from a single platform

An unprecedented synthesis of 8-substituted-borondipyrromethenes is described starting from 8-thiomethylbodipy 1. Aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, and organometallic boronic acids smoothly reacted with 1 in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(0) and a stoichiometric amount of Cu(l)-2-thienylcarboxylate under neutral conditions to give the corresponding Bodipy analogues in good to quantitative yields (20 examples). A remarkable reactivity was observed in some cases, e.g., ferrocenylboronic acid gave the product in 98% isolated yield after only 10 min at 55 degrees C.