Fluorescent and colourimetric 1, 8-naphthalimide-appended chemosensors for the tracking of metal ions: selected examples from the year 2010 to 2017

摘要

The global sensing science in the past couple of years has seen brilliant successes in the designs and syntheses of diverse fluorescent and colourimetric chemosensors of ultra-high selectivities and sensitivities for the tracking of metal ions in environmental and biological systems. Amongst the most widely employed fluorophores for the development of fluorescent and colourimetric chemosensors is the 1, 8-naphthalimide fluorophore, which is distinctive due to its possession of outstanding photophysical properties unequalled by other fluorophores. Many reported literatures are replete with employment of 1, 8-naphthalimide as a unique fluorophore for the construction of chemosensors for the monitoring of metal ions (such as Cu2+, Hg2+, Cr3+, Fe3+, Zn2+, Ag+, Pd2+, Al3+, Ba2+, Au3+, and Bi2+, and/or a combination of any of them) with remarkable results documented from various labs. This review summarises recent advances in the development of representative fluorescent and colourimetric 1, 8-naphthalimide-based chemosensors reported within the past 7 years. It is believed that gaining insights into the various highlighted examples would help to refine our knowledge of the field and pave the way for further advancement in the constructions of fluorescent and colourimetric 1, 8-naphthalimide-based chemosensors of improved sensing parameters and practical application values.