Supramolecular optical chemosensors for organic analytes

Abstract

Supramolecular optical chemosensors are abiotic molecular devices that bind analytes by noncovalent interactions, producing a change in light absorption or fluorescence. This review summarizes recent progress in the development of such chemosensors for organic analytes based on artificial receptors. Important design considerations, such as analyte affinity, choice of chromophore or fluorophore, binding selectivity, and optical signaling mechanism are briefly discussed. Chemists have fashioned chemosensors from a wide range of molecular structures, including polyalcohols, crown ethers, calixarenes, helicenes, sterically geared tripods, metal complexes, pinwheels, porphyrins, and fused-ring heterocycles. Analytes of interest include amines, carboxylic acids, amino acids, hydroquinones, alkaloids, carbohydrates, peptides, urea and creatinine.

Design of fluorescent materials for chemical sensing

“…Since then an enormous amount of work has been done for the rational design of fluorescent indicators. [16][17][18][19][20] However, only few sensors are currently available because the implementation of sensing probes in functional devices without the loss of sensitivity is still very challenging.…”

Ion-responsive Intramolecular Charge-transfer Absorption Using a Pyridinium Benzocrown Ether Conjugate

“…However, it still remains an issue about the effect of the charge on the guest binding ability and the ICT absorption character as well as the ion sensing ability. In the course of our study, we designed a new conjugated compound, 1, possessing a monocation of pyridinium conjugated benzocrown ether in a molecule, which has a similar structure to the previous bipyridinium conjugated benzocrown (3), with a lack of the substituent of the pyridinium at para position. 10 The simple monocationic pyridinium of 1 would affect not only the ICT absorption, but also the guest binding properties when compared to those of 3.…”

“…A number of published studies attest to the level of attention devoted to chemosensors that are capable of changing in fluorescence and absorption in response to chemical species, especially metal ions. [1][2][3][4] Supramolecular host-guest complexation is a key phenomenon for the development of such chemosensors. The majority of supramolecular systems are based on crown ethers and calixarens because of easy modifications with functional groups and appropriate chromophores so as to make them sophisticated.…”

Anion Sensing Properties of New Colorimetric Chemosensors Based on Thiourea and Urea Moieties

“…In particular, anionic receptors have the ability to selectively recognized and sense anionic analysts through visible, electrochemical, and optical responses. 4,5 Moreover, the development of artificial anion receptors capable of recognizing biologically relevant anions such as fluoride, chloride, phosphate, and acetate anion has attracted considerable interest. 6 Among those common anions, fluoride ion received the most attention from chemists because of its unique properties.…”