Tetrastyryl-Bodipy dyes: convenient synthesis and characterization of elusive near IR fluorophores.

1,3,5,7-Tetramethyl-Bodipy derivatives undergo Knoevenagel-type condensations with aromatic aldehydes to ultimately yield tetrastyryl-Bodipy derivatives. The resulting dyes absorb and emit strongly in the near IR. As the versatility of the Bodipy dyes are fully appreciated, these new tetrastyryl dyes are likely to be featured in a variety of functional supramolecular systems.