Advancing with Pyrrolopyrrole Cyanines: A Next Generation Class of Near-Infrared Fluorophores

Fluorescent dyes are the basis for a broad range of modern techniques in life and material sciences. Consequently, there is a pressing need for the development of new classes of NIR fluorophores in recent years. Pyrrolopyrrole Cyanines (PPCys) are a novel class of NIR chromophores that were first presented in 2007 by Fischer and coworkers.[1] Their optical properties are marked by strong and narrowband NIR absorptions, strong NIR fluorescence and hardly any absorption in the visible range. The absorption maxima can be tuned over a broad range while high fluorescence quantum yields are maintained. PPCys are attractive candidates for labelling applications or as selective NIR absorbers. Moreover, PPCys exhibit very high photostability. Due to these outstanding photophysical properties, PPCys are heading into a promising future as NIR dyes.