Chemosensors of Ion and Molecule Recognition, 1997 Nato Science Series C: Series, Vol. 492

In the broad field of supramolecular chemistry, the design and hence the use of chemosensors for ion and molecule recognition have developed at an extroardinary rate. This imaginative and creative area which involves the interface of different disciplines, e.g. organic and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental science, is not only fundamental in nature. It is also clear that progress is most rewarding for several new sensor applications deriving from the specific signal delivered by the analyte-probe interaction. Indeed, if calcium sensing in real time for biological purposes is actually possible, owing to the emergence of efficient fluorescent receptors, other elements can also be specifically detected, identified and finally titrated using tailored chemosensors. Pollutants such as heavy metals or radionuclides are among the main targets since their detection and removal could be envisioned at very low concentrations with, in addition, sensors displaying specific and strong complexing abilities. Besides, various species of biological interest (or others, the list is large) including sugars and other micellaneous molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide can be actually probed with optodes and similar devices. The present volume in which the key lectures of the workshop are collected gives a survey of the main developments in the field. The success of the workshop mainly came from the high quality of the lectures, the invited short talks, the two posters sessions and the many very lively discussions which without doubt will produce positive outcomes.

Modification of cyclodextrins to control their guest-host chemistry and their application as chemosensors.- New fluorescent readouts for protein interactions, gene expression, and membrane potential.- Chemical sensors based on field effect transistors; selective recognition of cations and anions.- Aqueous sugar sensing by boronic-acid-based artificial receptors.- Solid state supramolecular optical sensors.- Fluorescent chemosensors which take profit from the metalligand interaction.- Recognition, transduction and immobilisation- A holistic approach to sensor development.- Signal transduction in chemosensors of modified cyclodextrins.- Hydrogen bonding chemosensors for metabolites and nucleotides.- New approaches to sensory materials: Molecular recognition in conjugated polymers. New transduction methodology.- Higher generation luminescent PET (photoinduced electron transfer) sensors.- Chemosensing of monocyclic and bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by supramolecular active sites.- Squaraine-based long wavelength fluorescent chemosensors for ions.- A fluorescent chemosensor with selectivity for Hg(II). Chelatoselectivity via ligand immobilization.- Cation-responsive fluorescent sensors.- Fluorescent, siderophore-based hydroxamate chelators for the detection of transition-metalions.- Author index.

The design and use of chemosensors for ion and molecule recognition -- a branch of supramolecular chemistry -- have developed at an extraordinary rate. This imaginative and creative area involves work at the interface of organic and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, biology, medicine and environmental science and is providing new sensors based on the specific signal delivered by the analyte--probe reaction. The emergence of efficient fluorescent receptors has allowed the detection, identification, and even titration of, for example, heavy metal or radionuclide pollutants. Further, with sensors displaying specific and strong complexation properties, such materials could be detected and removed at very low concentrations. Further, among other species of biological interest, sugars, ox