A selective fluorescent and colorimetric probe for cyanide based on dual-site controlled intramolecular charge transfer-photoinduced electron transfer-Fluorescence resonance energy transfer

A novel dual-site controlled intramolecular charge transfer-photoinduced electron transfer-Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (ICT-PET-FRET) probe 6b and its reference ICT-FRET probe 6a were designed and synthesized. The probes show high selective fluorescent and colorimetric sensing for cyanide ions. The NH and CH groups connected by the it-extension framework in probe 6b were simultaneously employed as the two sensing sites and controlled the fluorescence of naphthalimide unites by PET, ICT followed by the corresponding FRET processes between coumarin and naphthalimide fluorophores. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.