Convenient and highly efficient synthesis of boron-dipyrrins bearing an arylboronate center

Novel boron-dipyrrins bearing an aryl group and a phenyloxy group linked directly to the boron center have been prepared in high yields from arylboronic acid. The unique coordination geometry around the boron was determined by an X-ray crystallographic analysis. The complexes showed a strong fluorescence, and alkylation of the OH group shifted the emission to a longer wavelength with a larger Stokes shift.