Convenient synthesis of water-soluble nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) BODIPY dyes

Mono- and bis-NTA-BODIPY dyes have been efficiently synthesized by amide bond formation between hepta-alkylated meso-aryl-BODIPY derivatives and the free amine of mono- and bis-NTA binder surrogates. These new fluorescent hybrids exhibited valuable photophysical properties under buffered aqueous conditions, thus expanding the arsenal of water-soluble BODIPY dyes for potential labeling and monitoring of biological systems and processes.