Synthesis, photophysical properties, and laser behavior of 3-amino and 3-acetamido BODIPY dyes.

The asymmetrically substituted BODIPY dyes 9a and 9b have been synthesized through a key redox step involving the alpha-nitroso derivative of the starting pyrrol. Both dyes emit fluorescence with quantum yields of ca. 0.7, but only 8b behaves as a good laser dye, with an efficiency of 48% in ethanol solution.