A New Phenothiazine-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Detection of Cyanide

A new fluorescent sensor for the detection of CN^- was developed based on the conjugation of phenothiazine fluorophore and benzofuran unit. By the nucleophilic attacking of CN^- to the fluoroacetylamino group in the sensor, the additional reaction of CN^- and carbonyl group induced the ICT (intramolecular charge transfer) effect in the molecule and caused the fluorescence quenching sensor. The titration experiments show that the sensor has good sensitivity, selectivity and quick response for CN^-. In addition, the fluorescent detection of CN^- in the living cell and zebrafish experiments demonstrated the value of the sensor in tracing the CN^- in biological systems.