New insight in boron chemistry: Application in two-photon absorption

Two groups of one-dimensional (1D) boron containing two-photon absorbing fluorophores have been prepared and characterized. One group includes boron atoms incorporated in the conjugated or pseudo conjugated central core and the other contain a boron cluster as an acceptor group at one end of the fluorophores. Two boron containing central cores (with two boron atoms) have been explored: the cyclodiborazane and the pyrazabole moieties. The chosen boron cluster, p-carborane, contains 10 boron atoms. All the prepared fluorophores present high two-photon absorption cross-sections. Some water-soluble as well as lipophylic dyes have been prepared and used in bio-imaging.

► We prepared boron containing two-photon fluorophores.
► They are based on cyclodiborazane, pyrazabole and carborane moieties.
► We study their two-photon absorption and fluorescence properties.
► We used them as dyes for two-photon excited microscopy.