Detection of Metal Ions, Anions and Small Molecules Using Metal Complexes
A chemical sensor reports the presence of an analyte by converting a recognition event into a spectroscopic signal. Currently used sensors largely rely on organic dyes, fluorescent bteins, nanoparticles, and metal complexes for responsive signal transduction. This chapter focuses exclusively on the use of metal complexes as design features for chemical sensors. A metal complex comprises a central metal ion surrounded by supporting ligands. The chapter expands on general design strategies for sensors with representative examples of metal complexes used to probe biologically important metal ions, anions, and small molecules. The examples presented here attest to the vast scope available for creative sensor design based on various aspects of metal coordination chemistry.
