Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0002-8552-0536

Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Award

5-31-2022

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry - (Ph.D.)

Department

Chemistry and Environmental Science

First Advisor

Yuanwei Zhang

Second Advisor

Kevin D. Belfield

Third Advisor

Hao Chen

Fourth Advisor

Pier Alexandre Champagne

Fifth Advisor

Xuan Liu

Abstract

The energy required for life on our planet is provided by light. In science, light is an important and powerful tool for measuring and modifying substances. For example, under the effect of illumination, light-responsive materials can change their physical and chemical properties. Photochemistry is a branch of research to study the effects of light irradiation on chemical structures and reactions. Some photochemical changes could lead to chemical bond dissociation (such as in photosynthesis) and structure isomerization (such as in the retina). Photochemistry has a strong relationship with human lives and it is essential in many ways. Among photophysics, fluorescence emission is one of the responses when light is absorbed by chromophores. In recent years, the applications of light-responsive materials in biology have attracted enormous interest due to their invasiveness and low side effects. In past decades, scientists have developed and synthesized a lot of useful structures based on different fluorophore platforms, such as fluorescein, rhodamine, cyanine, etc.

Boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based chromophore has become an interesting moiety among many others due to its high fluorescent quantum yield, relative chemical stability, and low stock shift. Modification of BODIPY core structures has been well studied and BODIPY derivatives applied in biology have been developed.

In this defense, three projects about BODIPY-based light-responsive materials are included with discussions of bio-applications. Firstly, BODIPY-based photoacid generators are synthesized to initiate ring-opening cationic polymerization upon lightirradiation. Secondly, a far-red BODIPY-based photocage is designed and synthesized to control cell death with light activation. Thirdly, a far-red BODIPY-based ratiometric probe is designed and synthesized to detect hypochlorous acid (HClO) in vitro.

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