BODIPY-ortho-carborane-tetraphenylethylene triad: synthesis, characterization, and properties

Two new compounds, BODIPY-tetraphenylethylene dyad and BODIPY-o-carborane-tetraphenylethylene triad, were designed and synthesized. This molecular dyad and triad have been characterized by using various spectroscopic methods, including FT-IR, mass, UV-visible absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and one and two-dimensional homo- and hetero-correlated NMR spectroscopy. Photophysical properties, as well as solvatochromic and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior, have been investigated. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis has unambiguously revealed their structure and provides an explanation for the absence of AIE character. The redox properties showed that an o-carborane addition increased the reduction potential and shifted the oxidation potential to the positive site.