1,8-Naphthalimide derivatives as small molecules with multi-applications in chemistry and biology

1,8-Naphthalimide and its derivatives have attracted attention from scientists because of their ease of synthesis, flexible structural modifications, and notable optical properties such as good fluorescence, large Stokes shifts, high quantum yields, unique photostability, and well documented biological activities. This review focuses on the modifications at the imide nitrogen and the naphthalene core of 1,8-naphthalimides through nucleophilic substitution reactions and examines their effect on the chemical, photophysical, and biological properties of these compounds. Furthermore, the wide range of applications of these compounds in the fields of chemistry and biology have also been discussed in detail. In terms of chemistry, their efficient electron transporting capabilities support their use in the development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and high performance dyes and as ligands in the synthesis of metal complexes. In the field of biology, their outstanding capabilities in cell imaging and DNA intercalation along with their function as unique fluorescent probes underscores their utility in molecular diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. This review critically examines and bridges the diverse applications of 1,8-naphthalimides and their derivatives across the chemical and biological sciences over the past fifteen years.