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 S(2−), HS(−), SO(3)(2−), S(2)O(3)(2−), S(2)O(8)(2−), I(−), Br(−), Cl(−), F(−), NO(2)(−), N(3)(−), SO(4)(2−), SCN(−), HCO(3)(−), CO(3)(2−) 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.