Recent Progress on Synthesis of Fluorescein Probes

After its first synthesis in 1871, fluorescein and its derivatives have been used as a powerful tool for molecular and cellular studies in biology, molecular biology, interactions between ligands and macromolecules, for drug discovery and environmental research. In recent 20 years, research attention has been paid particularly to synthesis and separation of fluorescein derivatives having various linker groups. This mini-review briefly summarizes synthesis of fluorescein derivatives for improving their chemical, fluorescent and biological properties and conjugation suitability.