The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C11H11ClN2, contains two almost-planar independent mol­ecules: the isoindole and dimethyl­amino­methyl­ene mean planes in the two mol­ecules form dihedral angles of 5.45 (8) and 1.34 (8)°. The crystal packing exhibits no short inter­molecular contacts, except for a relatively short Cl⋯Cl distance of 3.4907 (7) Å.

In the title boron–dipyrromethene derivative, C17H16BF2N3, the benzene ring and the boron–dipyrromethene mean plane form a dihedral angle of 55.82 (8)°. In the crystal, pairs of C—H⋯F inter­actions link the mol­ecules, forming inversion dimers. Further C—H⋯F inter­actions link the dimers into a three-dimensional network.