Electrochemiluminescence properties of a carboxy functionalised BODIPY

A novel electrochemiluminescent reagent, 2,6-Diethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-[(2-fluorophenyl)-6-methoxy-1,5-naphthyridine-3-carboxy]-4,4′‐difluoroboradiazaindacene, BODIPY-COOH, capable of direct conjugation to a wide range of biomolecules has been developed. BODIPY-COOH shows a high fluorescence quantum yield, ϕ = 0.67 ± 0.03, which significantly exceeds the range of 0.33 to 0.41 previously reported for structurally similar dyes. In the presence of persulfate, the dye generates significant electrochemiluminescence, ECL. Significantly, at high concentrations, quenching of the ECL is observed due to dimerisation.

► BODIPY dye generates significant electrochemiluminescence in the presence of persulfate.
► At high concentrations, BODIPY dyes show trivial quenching of the ECL and tend to dimerise.
► Carboxy functionalised BODIPY dyes are useful for biomolecule labelling.