A Biocompatible Colorimetric Triphenylamine- Dicyanovinyl Conjugated Fluorescent Probe for Selective and Sensitive Detection of Cyanide Ion in Aqueous Media and Living Cells.

A colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent probe 1 bearing triphenylamine-thiophene and dicyanovinyl groups has been synthesized and used to detect cyanide anion via a nucleophilic addition reaction. Probe 1 exhibited prominent selectivity and sensitivity towards CN- in aqueous media, even in the presence of other anions such as S2- , HS- , SO₃2- , S₂O₃2- , S₂O₈2- , I- , Br- , Cl- , F- , NO₂- , N₃- , SO₄2- , SCN- , HCO₃- , CO₃2- and AcO- . Moreover, a low detection limit (LOD, 51 nM) was observed. In addition, good cell membrane permeability and low cytotoxicity to HeLa cells were also observed, suggesting its promising potential in bio-imaging.