Specific Recognition and Sensing of CN- in Sodium Cyanide Solution

Specific recognition of CN- in sodium cyanide solution was achieved using two imidazole-based receptors (A and B). Visually detectable color changes were associated with the formation of hydrogen bonded adducts, A center dot CN- and B center dot CN-. Ratiometric fluorescence response was achieved for receptor A on binding to CN-, and this reagent was used for imaging bacterial cells pre-exposed to 1.42 mu M CN- solution.