Aurone synthesis and fluorescence properties for chemosensory, optoelectronic and biological applications: A review

Aurones and their synthetic analogues possess a wide-range of pharmacological activities, which have been deciphered by various studies in the last decades. Aurones with potential electron-donating and electron-withdrawing structural substitutions exhibit unique absorption and emission transitions in the visible region around 390−530 nm through “push-pull” mechanisms. Consequently, aurone scaffolds have demonstrated intensive fluorescence with higher quantum yields, larger Stoke shifts, and solvatochromic behavior, suggesting their potential use in various applications, including fluorescent probes, optoelectronic dyes, and sensing probes for disease detection and treatment. In light of these uses, this is the first report of a comprehensive study on aurones as fluorescent probe applications in the last decade (from 2011 to 2023). Therefore, this stimulating review embraces some important fluorescent aurone derivatives that can be used to “turn-on” chemosensory for CN−, F−, HS−, Hg2+, Cu2+, optoelectronic dyes, sensing applications for proteins and liposomes, and detection of β-amyloid aggregation in AD, etc. Furthermore, the present review can serve as a model template for future directions and development of potential emissive fluorophore applications of organic scaffolds. [Display omitted] •Aurones have shown intensive fluorescence 390–530 nm over “push-pull” mechanisms.•Synthetic aurones offer enriched quantum yields and Stoke shifts for possible applications.•Review compiles aurone probes for biological, optoelectronic dyes, and chemosensory usages.•Natural fluorophores offer deliberate leads for biomedical diagnostics and materials research.