Fluorescence-resonance energy transfer (FRET) within the fluorescent metallacycles

Abstract During past few years, the construction of fluorescent metallacycles featuring the fluorescence-resonance energy transfer behavior has attracted extensive attention due to their diverse applications such as real-time monitoring the dynamics of coordination-driven self-assembly, photoswitching fluorescence-resonance energy transfer, and light-controlled generation of singlet oxygen for cancer therapy. This review focuses on the recent advances on the design principles, preparation methods, optical properties, and the wide applications of fluorescent metallacycles with the FRET property.