Fluorophores based on the 4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (boron dipyrrin or BODIPY) platform have found diverse applications in different fields of modern science, medicine and (bio)technology. In this review we describe the numerous postfunctionalization methodologies of the boron dipyrrin core designed and realized by research groups around the globe. In the

Halogenated BODIPYs are important synthetic precursors and potential sensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Electrophilic bromination of pyrrolic-unsubstituted BODIPYs using bromine regioselectively generated mono- to heptabromoBODIPYs in a stepwise fashion in good to excellent yields. These resultant bromoBODIPYs were applied for regioselective substitution and Suzuki coupling reaction to generate BODIPYs 4, 5, 6, and 7 in good to excellent yields. According to NMR and X-ray analysis results, the stepwise bromination first takes place at 2,6-, then at 3,5-, and eventually at 1,7-positions, whereas the regioselective substitution occurs first at 3,5- then at 1,7-positions of the chromophore. The spectroscopic properties of these resultant BODIPYs were studied, which shows the potential application of these bromoBODIPYs as sensitizers for PDT.

A series of beta-formyl-BODIPYs 2 were synthesized in high yields from tetramethyl-BODIPYs 1 via the Vilsmeier-Haack reaction and were further functionalized using a Knoevenagel condensation to generate novel BODIPYs 3 and 4.

A series of BF2 complexes of hydrazine-Schiff base linked bispyrrole have been prepared from a simple two-step reaction from commercially available substances and are highly fluorescent in solution, film, and solid states with larger Stokes shift and excellent photostabilities comparable or even super to those of their BODIPY analogues. These resultant fluorescent dyes are highly susceptible to the postfunctionalization, as demonstrated in this work via the Knoevenagel condensation to introducing functionalities or tether groups to the chromophore.

meso-t-Bu-BODIPY produces unusual spectroscopic and photophysical characteristics in comparison to those of related alkylated BODIPY dyes.