Advancements in fluorescent probes for nitrite sensing: A review

Nitrite (NO2–) is a common chemical substance that widely exists in nature and human life, such as in food, drinking water, soil, etc. Excessive intake of NO2– will lead to many harms, including cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, etc. Therefore, accurate detection of NO2– is of great significance. Fluorescent probe is an ideal choice for detecting NO2– with high sensitivity and selectivity. In recent years, more and more fluorescent probes have been designed and synthesized for NO2– detection. These fluorescent probes achieve NO2– detection through various mechanisms such as diazotization reaction, nitration reaction, and coordination. Herein, this paper reviews the design and application of various new NO2– fluorescent probes in recent years, in order to promote the development of research in this field and provide new methods and ideas for rapid and accurate NO2– detection.