Energy transfer, photosensitization and sensing with novel bodipy compounds and their supramolecular assemblies

Abstract

Fluorescent dyes have been used for decades in many applications due to their versatility, sensitivity and many other useful properties. Since their discovery in 1968, BODIPY dyes have come forward and have been used in many fields of research such as photodynamic therapy, anion/cation sensing, dye-sensitized solar cells. In this thesis, novel applications of fluorescent dyes, mainly based on BODIPY fluorophores are reported. In the first project, a photosensitizer derived from erythrosine attached to a luminol derivative is presented. The main purpose was to achieve photosensitization without requiring external excitation with light. In another project, we synthesized and characterized a series of heavy atom substituted BODIPY based photosensitizers. In a related study, the photophysical properties of a BODIPY based chemosensor substituted with benzo-21-crown-7 units were studied in the presence of various -diamino alkanes. Then, we designed a BODIPY based probe sensitive to bioreductive conditions known to be prevalent in hypoxic cancer cells. In the final chapter, we present a mechanically interlocked energy transfer cassette consisted of a distyryl-BODIPY acceptor and two donor units.