Luminescent sensor molecules based on coordinated metals: a review of recent developments

Recent developments (1994 to early 1999) in coordination chemistry as they relate to luminescence-based chemical sensing are reviewed. Included are developments involving assemblies for luminescence-based sensing of metal cations, organic and inorganic anions, small neutral molecules in solution, and various volatile organic chemicals. Emphasized in the review are: (a) the chemical features that permit the sensors to function selectively, and (b) the mechanistic schemes that permit analyte recognition and binding events to be converted to luminescence responses. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.