Abstract Formylation has been performed on pyrrole-unsubstituted dipyrromethanes 1 and boron–dipyrrin (BODIPY) dyes 4 based on a Vilsmeier–Haack reaction. It is highly regioselective and complementary and occurs exclusively at the α-and β-position, respectively, for pyrrole-unsubstituted dipyrromethanes 1 and BODIPY dyes 4. This regioselective formylation enables the syntheses of a variety of α-and β-substituted ...