A fluorescent molecular ruler as a selective probe for ω-aminoacidsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental procedures, physical and spectral data of new products, fluorimetric studies, NMR titrations and calculations. See DOI: 10.1039/c0cc05454b

A fluorescent probe for ω-aminoacids behaves as a molecular ruler, changing the yellow fluorescent emission into blue as a function of the distance between the terminal ammonium and the carboxylate groups, permitting the quantitative detection of ω-aminoacids, their metabolites and related drugs, such as pregabalin or gabapentin, from pharmaceutical formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]