The air-stable dipyrromethene-based tin complexes (SNDIPYs) 1 and 3 and the first isolable ASDIPY 2, which are direct analogues of BODIPY, have been synthesized and fully characterized. All of these complexes exhibit green photoluminescence.

Abstract

Boron-dipyrromethenes (BODIPYs) have attracted much attention owing to their unique properties and widespread applications; however, the incorporation of the heavier group 14 and 15 elements in the rigid dipyrromethene ligands remains limited. Herein, the dipyrromethene-based heavier group 14 and 15 element complexes, tin-dipyrromethene (SNDIPY, 1) and arsenic-dipyrromethene (ASDIPY, 2), which are direct analogues of BODIPY, have been facilely synthesized and isolated in moderate yields. Both compounds have been investigated by NMR, UV-vis absorption, photoluminescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammogram, X-ray crystallography, as well as theoretical studies. Both compounds exhibit green photoluminescence. Notably, SNDIPY 1 is air-stable and compound 2 represents the first isolable and structurally characterized ASDIPY.