A Fluorescence Turn-on Detection of Cyanide in Aqueous Solution Based on the Aggregation-Induced Emission

The nucleophilic addition of cyanide to the trifluoroacetylamino group in 2 yields an amphiphilic species which would induce the aggregation of silole 1, and as a result, the fluorescence of the ensemble increases largely. Accordingly, a fluorescence turn-on detection of cyanide in aqueous solution can be established with the ensemble of silole 1 and compound 2. Also, this ensemble displays good selectivity toward cyanide over other common inorganic anions.