Highly selective optical and reversible dual-path chemosensor for cyanide detection and its application in live cells imaging

A new biocompatible fluorescent receptor 1 was synthesized by conjugating diaminomaleonitrile (DMN) with benzothiazole unit, and characterized by single X-ray. In DMF/water (1:1, v/v), the receptor 1 showed a selectivity turn-on fluorescence at 517nm in the presence of CN^-. Receptor 1 showed a detection limit down to 0.16µM without any interference from other tested anions. The reversibility and reusability of 1 for the detection of CN^- ion was also tested for five cycles indicating the probe 1 could be used in a reversible manner. Importantly, the receptor 1 showed excellent cells viability and was successfully applied for the detection of CN^- in live mouse fibroblast cells L929 cells.