Fluorescent heterocycles: Recent trends and new developments

Over the last two decades fluorescent materials have strongly influenced the technological development of modern societies. Ranging from organic photovoltaic to OLED TVs, from highly sensitive early detection methods of diseases to the sensing of environmental pollutants, a multitude of applications have been developed exploiting the beneficial properties of such materials. Future technologies based on fluorescent molecules may act as leverage for transforming our society into a place of a sustainable economy, at the same time raising our standard of living. Modern heterocyclic molecules are at the core of this development of fluorescence. This chapter gives an overview on recent developments and trends in the field of fluorescent heterocyclic molecules of selected systems. Starting with their synthesis, modern applications and studies of these molecules are discussed and integrated into the larger context of technological developments.