“…Prior to this benevolent invasion of biology by molecular fluorescent sensors/switches, there were examples quietly serving analytical chemistry. 8-Hydroxyquinoline, 2,2‘-dihydroxyazobenzene, and 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone are classical Mg 2+ reagents of this type. The growing influence of macrocyclic systems broke into the field of fluorescent sensors with two studies on dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether. , More highly functionalized macrocyclic sensors 28 , and 29 were also in the vanguard.…”