Recent advances in quinazolinones as an emerging molecular platform for luminescent materials and bioimaging

The quinazolinone skeleton is a common structure found in natural alkaloids and synthetic drugs. In recent years, some quinazolinone derivatives have been found to exhibit good luminescence properties. Benefitting from excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, and high efficiency, quinazolinones have become promising candidates for use as fluorescent probes, biological imaging reagents and luminescent materials. This review focuses on recent advances relating to the luminescence properties of quinazolinones and their applications in fluorescent probes, biological imaging. Fluorescent probes based on the 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-4(3H)-quinazolinone (HPQ) structure are summarized. Newly developed quinazolinone molecules for environmentally sensitive probes and two photon fluorescence bioimaging are discussed. A brief outlook relating to the future of quinazolinone-based probes and luminescent materials is also included.