Recent Advances in Tetra-Coordinate Boron-Based Photoactive Molecules for Luminescent Sensing, Imaging, and Anticounterfeiting

Tetra-coordinate boron-based fluorescent materials hold considerable promise across chemistry, biology and materials science due to their unique and precisely tunable optoelectronic properties. The incorporation of the heteroatom boron (B) enables these materials to exhibit high luminescence quantum yields, adjustable absorption and emission wavelengths, and exceptional photostability. This review examines the molecular design and applications of tetra-coordinate boron-based photoactive molecules, highlighting their roles in fluorescence sensing, anticounterfeiting, and imaging. We outline how structural features impact their properties and discuss strategies for enhancing their performance, including ligand modification and the extension of conjugation length, among others. Additionally, future research focus in this field is also addressed including strategies for diversifying molecular structures and enhancing molecular stability, which is believed to pave the way for innovative solutions to the challenges in areas such as sensing, imaging and information security.