ortho-Aminomethylphenylboronic acids are routinely used in sensors for carbohydrates, but the function of the o-aminomethyl group in enhancing binding affinity and modulating the emission of appended fluorophores has been the matter of some debate. This Review presents a unified picture of the structural features, mechanisms of sugar complexation and photophysics of these kinds of sensors.
- Xiaolong Sun
- Brette M. Chapin
- Eric V. Anslyn
