Conjugated polymers containing a 2,2′-biimidazole moiety-a novel fluorescent sensing platform

Two novel conjugated polymers containing a 2,2'-biimidazole moiety have been designed, synthesized, and demonstrated to be used as an effective fluorescent sensing platform for detection of Ag+ and cysteine. This is the first example utilizing a fluorescent conjugated polymer-Ag+ complex to selectively detect Cys with a nanomolar range detection limit.