Specific detection of D-glucose by a tetraphenylethene-based fluorescent sensor.

A conceptually new "light-up" biosensor with a high specificity for d-glucose (Glu) in aqueous media has been developed. The emission from a tetraphenylethene (TPE)-cored diboronic acid (1) was greatly boosted when the fluorogen was oligomerized with Glu because of restriction of the intramolecular rotations of the aryl rotors of TPE by formation of the oligomer. Little change in the light emission was observed when 1 was mixed with D-fructose, D-galactose, or D-mannose, as these saccharides are unable to oligomerize with the fluorogen.