Acrylonitrile embedded benzimidazole-anthraquinone based chromofluorescent sensor for ratiometric detection of CN- ions in bovine serum albumin

A novel acrylonitrile embedded benzimidazole-based probe 3 has been designed and synthesized by conjugating anthraquinone with 2-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yflacetonitrile. The probe 3 potentially detects CN- ions in H2O/CH3CN (1:9; v/v), solid state, and plasma-like solution via chromo and fluorometric approach. The probe 3 displayed an absorption redshift from 415 nm to 472 nm and emission redshift from 510 nm to 610 nm in the presence of CN- ions, in H2O/CH3CN (1:9; v/v). The probe 3 displayed colour change from yellow to orange along with red emission in the presence of CN- ions. The probe 3 showed very low detection limit of 37 x 10(-9) M. Furthermore, probe 3 is also utilized as a portable paper strip for on -site detection of CN- ions. The H-1 NMR and mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the nucleophilic addition of CN- ions to probe 3. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.