Fluorogenic and Chromogenic Polymer Chemosensors

Abstract

The introduction of host units, also called binding sites or receptor subunits, and fluorescence or chromogenic signaling motifs into the lateral or into the main polymer chain opens the way for cutting-edge applications related to the selective interaction of these chemical sites with guest or target molecules (i.e., cations, anions or neutral molecules). Thus, the good mechanical properties of these polymers permit the design and preparation of “á la carte” fluorogenic or colorimetric probes for sensing diverse analytes. These polymeric probes may work in organic or aqueous solutions and, most importantly, in the solid state, as finished materials, can operate in aqueous media, permitting the preparation of “naked-eye” solid probes to be used by non-specialist personnel, for example, to control the concentration of analytes in chemical industries or to test whether environmental polluting chemicals exceed the legal limits.

Keywords:

• polymer sensors
• polymer chemosensors
• chromogenic sensors
• fluorogenic sensors
• fluorescent probes
• host-guest chemistry
• supramolecular chemistry
• supramolecular polymers

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Junta de Castilla y León and, by the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia – Feder, by means of the projects BU001A10-2 and MAT2008-00946, respectively.