We describe a series of easily accessible, visible-light-sensitive (λ > 500 nm) BODIPY (boron-dipyrromethene)-based photoprotecting groups (PPGs) for primary and secondary amines, based on a carbamate linker. The caged compounds are stable under aqueous conditions for 24 h and can be efficiently uncaged in vitro with visible light (λ = 530 nm). These properties allow efficient photodeprotection of amines, rendering these novel PPGs potentially suitable for various applications, including the delivery of caged drugs and their remote activation.

Protection of amine functionality with a BODIPY-derived photocleavable protecting group enables the control of heart beat frequency with red light.

It is shown that the nanofilament structure of B4 made of azo-dimers can be easily re-structured by UV light.