"Click-fluors": Modular fluorescent saccharide sensors based on a 1,2,3-triazole ring

A carbohydrate sensing "click-fluor" is reported which displays a nontypical binding preference with sample saccharides. That a fluorescent sensor is generated as a result of triazole formation (click reaction), rather than simply bringing the sensor and reporter units together via a triazole linkage, and the potential applicability of the wide range of easily accessible acetylene units means a simple strategy for the development of modular fluorescent sensor arrays for rapid screening of target saccharides will be available.