Mechanism of two styryl BODIPYs as fluorescent probes and protective agents in lipid bilayers against aqueous ClO−

Two styryl BODIPY derivatives, BOH and BOE, with different hydrophilic properties, were investigated for their reaction mechanisms in lipid bilayers against aqueous ClO−, by both experimental and theoretical methods. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed their identical conformations in solution. Fluorescence spectra and high-resolution mass spectra corroborated the central vinyl group as a common antioxidation moiety against ClO− oxidation. In giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), distinct reaction kinetics with ClO− suggested that BOE provided superior protective effects compared to BOH on lipids. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the lipophilic octyloxy group in BOE led to its deeper localization within the lipid phase, bringing it closer to the corresponding lipid target group. This study establishes the two styryl BODIPYs as promising fluorescent probes for detecting aqueous ClO− in lipid-water polyphasic systems.