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The development of sensitive chromogenic chemosensors for sensing Cu 2+ has been receiving much attention in recent years because of their potential application in clinical biochemistry and the environment studies. Numerous chemosensors have been developed for selective recognition of different species on the basis of host–guest interactions such as hydrogen-bonding, electrostatic force, metal–ligand coordination, hydrophobic and van der Waals force of interactions. The simple and rapid sensing of Cu 2+ ions in biological and environmental systems is desirable and the development of selective and sensitive imaging tools capable of monitoring Cu 2+ ions rapidly has attracted considerable attention. Fluorescent chemosensors have served as useful tool for detecting metal ions owing to their intrinsic sensitivity, selectivity and capacity for rapid, real-time monitoring. Small-molecule fluorescent probes can make use of selective, bio-orthogonal chemistries to report on specific analytes in cells and in more complex biological specimens. This review presents a survey of strategies for using small-molecule fluorescent probes to detect Cu 2+ ions which cover UV to NIR regions such as anthracene, pyrene, quinoline, quinazoline, dansyl, naphthalimide, rhodamine, fluorescein, BODIPY and cyanine dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]