Recent developments in the field of supramolecular lanthanide luminescent sensors and self-assemblies

The lanthanide ions possess long lived excited states, which can be populated by sensitizing antennae, and emit at long wavelengths in the visible and the near infrared (NIR) regions. These are particularly desirable features for: (a) sensing as it overcomes drawbacks such as light scattering and auto fluorescence associated with short wavelength emitting sensors and (b) for probing metal directed synthesis of large supramolecular systems often formed between f–f or f–d metal ions. This review article focuses on some of the recent work published in the areas of lanthanide luminescent sensing of ions and molecules, and the formation of self-assembly structures. These examples are based on the use of structurally defined organic (or coordination) ligands which complement (either as a single ligands or through metal-directed self-assembly formation between several ligands) the coordination requirements of lanthanide ions. Examples of ligands that can either in a step-wise manner or simultaneously bind lanthanide and transition metal ions will also be discussed.