Synthesis and properties of novel fluorescent switches.

[reaction: see text] Photochromic dithienylethene moieties were covalently attached to fluorescent 4,4-difluoro-8-(4'-iodophenyl)-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (iodo-BODIPY) via a phenylacetylene linker. UV light induced isomerization of the photochrome results in significant decrease in fluorescence intensity. This fluorescence can be recovered with visible light. Steady-state fluorescence measurements demonstrate that the emission of the dye can be modulated by external light. An intramolecular energy transfer mechanism accounts for the fluorescence quenching in the UV light produced isomers.