Engineering asymmetric D–π–A BODIPYs as high-performance photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy

Asymmetric D–π–A BODIPY photosensitizer 5c, based-on a mono-naphtho[ b ]-fused BODIPY core substituted with 8-trifluoromethylphenyl, 3-(4-methylthiopheneethylene), and 2-iodine groups, adopts a distorted structure.