Free cholesterol analogs bearing a boron dipyrromethene difluoro (bodipy) fluorophore in the side chain and method of preparation and use thereof

A molecule having formula I, II, or III,

• wherein:
• L represents a linker having one of the following structures:
• Y represents the following formula:
• wherein:
• n1 is independently 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5;
• n2 is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• n3 is independently 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• A1 is O, S or H2;
• A2 is O, S, or NH;
• A3 is independently alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or aryloxy;
• A4 is independently hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl;
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 independently represent hydrogen, alkyl, phenyl, alkoxy, or carboalkoxy;
• or R1 and R2, R2 and R3, R5 and R6, or R6 and R7 represent benzo provided that one of R1 through R7 represents a bond to L;
• Q is fluoro, alkyl, alkoxy, or aryloxy;
• alkyl groups are unbranched, saturated, and have 1-4 carbon atoms;
• aryl groups can be either carbocyclic aryl or heterocyclic aryl;
• carbocyclic aryl groups have a total of 6-20 carbon atoms, including carbon atoms of substituents;
• heterocyclic aryl groups have a total of 5-20 carbon atoms, including carbon atoms of substituents;
• alkoxy groups are alkyloxy groups wherein alkyl groups are as defined above;
• the aryl groups of aryloxy are as described above;
• carboalkoxy groups are alkyl esters of a carboxylic acid wherein alkyl groups are as defined above;
• each alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, benzo, and carboalkoxy, independently, may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent;
• alkyl substituents are halo, hydroxyl, amino, or aryl;
• aryl substituents are halo, hydroxyl, amino, alkyl, aryl, nitro, or carboxyl;
• and
• halo substituents are fluoro or chloro.