A Local CC2 and TDA-DFT Double Hybrid Study on BODIPY/aza-BODIPY Dimers as Heavy Atom Free Triplet Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy Applications

A series of 11 different boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dimers is carefully examined by means of ab initio and Tamm-Dancoff approximated density functional theory methods. Vertical and 0-0 excitation energies along with the tetraradical character of these dimers are determined. Possible application of a series of linked dimers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) was investigated through computing their excitation energies, spin-orbit coupling matrix elements, and singlet-triplet energy gaps. Finally through a systematic investigation of a series of 36 different BODIPY and aza-BODIPY dimers, a new class of near-IR heavy atom free photosensitizers for PDT action is introduced.