BODIPY based ‘click on’ fluorogenic dyes: application in live cell imaging

The design, synthesis, and photophysical properties of new BODIPY-based fluorogenic ‘click on’ dyes are reported. CuAAC reaction of non-fluorescent BODIPY azide with a series of non-fluorescent alkyne molecules resulted in fluorescent triazoles which displayed up to 532-fold enhancement of fluorescence in the red region. Imaging studies confirmed the general trend of cell permeability and a cholesterol linked derivative exhibited selective localization into intracellular membranes.