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.