BODIPY: A Unique Dye for Versatile Optical Applications

During the last three decades, the boradipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes are established as one of the most versatile class of organic dyes for various optical applications in almost every field of science. Unique photophysical properties and rich redox behaviours are the most attracting features of these dyes. Along with these, their synthetic versatility made them attractive to scientific fraternity. Different synthetic strategies were adopted to tune their optical properties to synthesize custom made dyes for various applications. In this chapter, molecular designing of BODIPY dyes for tuning their optical properties are discussed. Finally, the applications of the BODIPY dyes as laser dyes, chemical/bio-sensors, cellular imaging agents, triplet photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy, fluorescent-Positron Emission Tomography (PET) probes, solar energy conversion agents in organic photovoltaics (OPV) and, in photocatalysis and developing self-assembled architectures are discussed.