Coumarin-Based Boron Complexes with Aggregation-Induced Emission

J Org Chem. 2017 Apr 7;82(7):3456-3462. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.6b02852. Epub 2017 Mar 15.

Abstract

Two coumarin-based boron complexes (HBN and MBN) with aggregation-induced emission were designed and synthesized. The photophysical properties of the complexes were investigated in different solvents and in the solid state. Results showed that the inhibited C═N isomerization by N,O-chelated BF2 caused the significant enhancement of fluorescence in THF. In particular, the complexes displayed red-shifted emissions (>60 nm) in mixed solvents of CH3CN and water because of the aggregation-induced charge-transfer enhancement. In the solid state, the bright red emission appeared at 650 nm (620 nm), with a Stokes shift of 170 nm. Cell-imaging experiments indicated that the complexes have good membrane permeability and can be used as lysosome trackers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Boron Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Boron Compounds / chemistry
  • Coumarins / chemical synthesis*
  • Coumarins / chemistry
  • Fluorescence
  • Lysosomes / chemistry
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Particle Size

Substances

  • Boron Compounds
  • Coumarins
  • coumarin