Functional chromophores synthesized via multicomponent Reactions: A review on their use as cell-imaging probes

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements and applications of fluorescence imaging probes synthesized via MCRs (multicomponent reactions). These probes, also known as functional chromophores, belong to a currently investigated class of fluorophores that are presently being successfully applied in bioimaging experiments, especially in various living cell lineages. We describe some of the MCRs that have been employed in the synthesis of these probes and explore their applications in biological imaging, with an emphasis on cellular imaging. The review also discusses the challenges and future perspectives in the field, particularly considering the potential impact of MCR-based fluorescence imaging probes on advancing this field of research in the coming years. Considering that this area of research is relatively new and nearly a decade has passed since the first publication, this review also provides a historical perspective on this class of fluorophores, highlighting the pioneering works published between 2011 and 2016.