A neutral BODIPY molecular rotor photosensitizer for mitochondrial targeting

Abstract

Herein, two novel neutral sulfone-BODIPY-based molecular rotors (SB1 and SB2) have been designed and synthesized, integrating viscosity-responsive turn-on fluorescence with ISC-driven ROS generation. The sulfone group acted as a strong electron acceptor to enhance ICT, while phenyl conjugation imparted fluorescence sensitivity through restricted rotation. These neutral sulfone-BODIPYs enable mitochondrial targeting and imaging and serve as potential photosensitizers for biomedical applications.