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A family of symmetrical and unsymmetrical aza-dipyrromethenes and aza-BODIPYs with through-bond and face-to-face π-interaction between termini

A family of symmetrical and unsymmetrical aza-dipyrromethenes and aza-BODIPYs with through-bond and face-to-face π-interaction between termini
A family of symmetrical and unsymmetrical aza-dipyrromethenes and aza-BODIPYs with through-bond and face-to-face π-interaction between termini

The dipyrromethenes (DPMs) and their borylated adducts (BODIPYs) constitute a class of versatile chromophores that has become one of the most widely studied over recent decades. They combine excellent photochemistry properties with opportunity for synthetic manipulation and tuning. We report here a related class of aza-dibenzodipyrromethenes and show that they present an interesting architecture where the core adopts a helical arrangement that places terminal aryl functional groups directly on top of each other in close, π-stacked arrangement. Complexation by reaction with boron trifluoride, demonstrated to be significantly improved by addition of trimethylsilyl chloride, induces a stereochemical inversion that destroys the helix, flattens the system, and switches on fluorescence. A wide range of terminal aromatic fragments can be easily introduced. Unsymmetrical derivatives can be made conveniently by simple mixed condensations, but a controlled, rational approach is also described whereby the ability of one component to homocondense (the more reactive partner) is removed by conversion to its corresponding tosylate or triflate. The two approaches have been investigated through successful introduction of complementary electron rich, electron poor, and π-extended functional termini.

BODIPY, chromophores, helicene, switching, synthesis
0947-6539
Alanazi, Budur N.
0f3a6978-7e1a-41ea-ae20-b2a29a79b7ce
Alsahli, Ahad O.
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Remiro-Buenamañana, Sonia
9176f285-75ea-4567-846c-2a7ed6364b5d
Díaz-Moscoso, Alejandro
0add82f3-aaff-4875-b2d8-e25e29e7d59e
Alkorbi, Faeza H.
b7e1277a-105a-4918-aef0-bbce20fdd584
Alsaiari, Norah A.
024b1e7f-7a58-4539-a003-1521428d67e5
Marrett-Munro, Conor
a6052616-8bb2-447e-a803-b3b2353798cf
Chambrier, Isabelle
d3ad81b8-12d1-4f7a-bc04-99da7f4c0d50
Hughes, David L.
d3b8245e-976a-47e6-8fe6-6ebcf38e2255
Coles, Simon J.
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Tizzard, Graham J.
8474c0fa-40df-43a6-a662-7f3c4722dbf2
Cammidge, Andrew N.
e7a6b5be-5613-416e-8f1a-40b4744ecf65
Alanazi, Budur N.
0f3a6978-7e1a-41ea-ae20-b2a29a79b7ce
Alsahli, Ahad O.
f813f63f-387a-4cea-9ef5-58b294f405bb
Remiro-Buenamañana, Sonia
9176f285-75ea-4567-846c-2a7ed6364b5d
Díaz-Moscoso, Alejandro
0add82f3-aaff-4875-b2d8-e25e29e7d59e
Alkorbi, Faeza H.
b7e1277a-105a-4918-aef0-bbce20fdd584
Alsaiari, Norah A.
024b1e7f-7a58-4539-a003-1521428d67e5
Marrett-Munro, Conor
a6052616-8bb2-447e-a803-b3b2353798cf
Chambrier, Isabelle
d3ad81b8-12d1-4f7a-bc04-99da7f4c0d50
Hughes, David L.
d3b8245e-976a-47e6-8fe6-6ebcf38e2255
Coles, Simon J.
3116f58b-c30c-48cf-bdd5-397d1c1fecf8
Tizzard, Graham J.
8474c0fa-40df-43a6-a662-7f3c4722dbf2
Cammidge, Andrew N.
e7a6b5be-5613-416e-8f1a-40b4744ecf65

Alanazi, Budur N., Alsahli, Ahad O., Remiro-Buenamañana, Sonia, Díaz-Moscoso, Alejandro, Alkorbi, Faeza H., Alsaiari, Norah A., Marrett-Munro, Conor, Chambrier, Isabelle, Hughes, David L., Coles, Simon J., Tizzard, Graham J. and Cammidge, Andrew N. (2025) A family of symmetrical and unsymmetrical aza-dipyrromethenes and aza-BODIPYs with through-bond and face-to-face π-interaction between termini. Chemistry - A European Journal, 31 (50), [e202501862]. (doi:10.1002/chem.202501862).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The dipyrromethenes (DPMs) and their borylated adducts (BODIPYs) constitute a class of versatile chromophores that has become one of the most widely studied over recent decades. They combine excellent photochemistry properties with opportunity for synthetic manipulation and tuning. We report here a related class of aza-dibenzodipyrromethenes and show that they present an interesting architecture where the core adopts a helical arrangement that places terminal aryl functional groups directly on top of each other in close, π-stacked arrangement. Complexation by reaction with boron trifluoride, demonstrated to be significantly improved by addition of trimethylsilyl chloride, induces a stereochemical inversion that destroys the helix, flattens the system, and switches on fluorescence. A wide range of terminal aromatic fragments can be easily introduced. Unsymmetrical derivatives can be made conveniently by simple mixed condensations, but a controlled, rational approach is also described whereby the ability of one component to homocondense (the more reactive partner) is removed by conversion to its corresponding tosylate or triflate. The two approaches have been investigated through successful introduction of complementary electron rich, electron poor, and π-extended functional termini.

Text
Chemistry A European J - 2025 - Alanazi - A Family of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Aza‐Dipyrromethenes and Aza‐BODIPYs - Version of Record
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Accepted/In Press date: 4 July 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 9 July 2025
Published date: 14 July 2025
Keywords: BODIPY, chromophores, helicene, switching, synthesis

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 504667
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/504667
ISSN: 0947-6539
PURE UUID: d55e4d62-7483-48c2-8f9b-3887b734d61d
ORCID for Simon J. Coles: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8414-9272
ORCID for Graham J. Tizzard: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1577-5779

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 17 Sep 2025 16:37
Last modified: 18 Sep 2025 01:38

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Contributors

Author: Budur N. Alanazi
Author: Ahad O. Alsahli
Author: Sonia Remiro-Buenamañana
Author: Alejandro Díaz-Moscoso
Author: Faeza H. Alkorbi
Author: Norah A. Alsaiari
Author: Conor Marrett-Munro
Author: Isabelle Chambrier
Author: David L. Hughes
Author: Simon J. Coles ORCID iD
Author: Andrew N. Cammidge

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