Multicomponent synthesis and photophysical properties of meso-thienyl BODIPY-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-ones. An experimental and theoretical study

Abstract

Seven new pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-ones linked to a meso-thienyl BODIPY moiety by an ethynylbenzene π-conjugated system were synthesized in one-pot manner via an Ugi-Zhu reaction coupled to a cascade process [aza Diels-Alder cycloaddition/N-acylation/decarboxylation/dehydration]. The photophysical properties of the polyheterocyclic compounds were evaluated by UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy in five solvents of different polarities. All synthesized products showed two distinct absorption/emission bands, corresponding to both fluorophores separately. The fluorescence intensity of the pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-one was the highest in toluene, and it decreased with increasing solvent polarity. On the other hand, the fluorescence intensity of the meso-thienyl BODIPY fragment was insensitive to solvent polarity. The effect of different substituents bonded to the pyrrole ring was evaluated, finding that strong electron-donating groups influence the fluorescence intensity and decay rate of the compounds, even with the presence of a methylene spacer. Moreover, the electronic structure was assessed by DFT and TD-DFT calculations, which reproduced the experimental results reasonably well, showing that the HOMO is located on the pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridin-5-one core, while the LUMO is on the BODIPY fragment.