The synthesis and characterization of a series of 3,5-di-[Formula: see text]-benzyloxystyrylBODIPY dyes with different substituents at the meso-aryl position is reported. The photophysical and nonlinear optical properties are described. BODIPYs of this type are found to be suitable for optical limiting at 532 nm on the nanosecond timescale. An enhancement of the population of the T[Formula: see text] state through the incorporation of bromine atoms at the 2,6-positions does not result in an enhancement of the optical limiting properties on a nanosecond timescale. This suggests that, in contrast with phthalocyanines, access to excited state absorption (ESA) from the T[Formula: see text] state through the introduction of a heavy atom effect does not provide a significantly improved reverse saturable absorbance response compared to ESA from the S[Formula: see text] state.
