A novel and straightforward strategy for boron functionalization in boron dipyrromethenes (BODIPYs) is developed. In particular, this synthetic strategy provides new possibilities for the synthesis of sp(2) N-substituted (B-NCS and -NCO), benzotriazole- and trifluoroacetamide-substituted BODIPYs that were hitherto unknown. These new BODIPYs display an array of highly desirable photophysical properties (0.04 < Phi(f) < 0.86), paving the road for further investigations in material applications.