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A molecular phototropic system for cyanide: Detection and sunlight driven harvesting of cyanide with molecular
Vanthana Jeyasingh1, Kumaresan Murugesan1, Sudha Lakshminarayanan1
1Department of Chemistry, International Research Centre, Centre for Supramolecular Chemistry, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education (KARE), Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil, Srivilliputtur, Tamil Nadu 626 126, India.
Abstract:
We are reporting a simple, easy to prepare, and conformation switchable first molecular phototropic system L, "(E)-2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-1-((pyren-8-yl)methylene)hydrazine, for cyanide harvesting. This molecular phototropic system behaves as a molecular sunflower in which the conformation of this molecular sunflower can be altered in response to the sunlight. This molecular flower can sense and bind the cyanide anion colorimetrically through its transition state. Further, upon exposure of this transition state cyanide complex 1, under sunlight, this system is capable to release the bound cyanide via -C=N- free rotation to reach its lower energy stable conformation. Similar behaviors were observed for acetate and fluoride with L. The strength of the phototropic system L towards cyanide, acetate and fluoride is found to be 4.5 × 105, 1.53 × 102 and 6.09 × 102 M-1.
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