BODIPYs and Their Derivatives: The Past, Present and Future

Boron-dipyrromethene (4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene, BDP or BODIPY) fluorescent dyes, first described by Treibs and Kreuzer in 1968, have been the focus of considerable research interest over the last three decades. Their structural versatility makes it possible to fine-tune their spectroscopic properties, and therefore they have been used in many scientific and technological fields as fluorescence markers for bioimaging and photosensitizers for PDT, as light harvesting arrays, laser dyes and sensors in material science. BODIPY research has also stimulated the exploration of borate complexes with N–B–O, N–B–N and N–B–C coordinate patterns. These compounds usually display large Stokes shifts and significant solid-state emission. The growing diversity of such analogues is to further enrich BODIPY chemistry. The design, spectroscopy and application of BODIPY dyes and their derivatives continue to be topics of a vibrant, highly multidisciplinary research field.

The aim of this Research Topic is to outline and summarize the most innovative research regarding the synthesis, spectroscopic properties, theoretical calculations and application of novel BODIPY dyes and their derivatives. This Research Topic will provide a guidance for the future rational design of BODIPY dyes and their derivatives with properties suitable for applications.