Near-infrared fluorescent dyes with large Stokes shifts: light generation in BODIPYs undergoing excited state intramolecular proton transfer.

ABSTRACT

Novel BODIPYs undergoing excited state intramolecular proton transfer are reported. The molecules afford NIR emission with a large Stokes shift and possess a free hydroxyl unit that is easy to functionalize, allowing the dyes to be exploited as a valuable scaffold in probe design.