Cyanide Boosting Copper Catalysis: A Mild Approach to Fluorescent Benzazole Derivatives from Nonemissive Schiff Bases in Biological Media.

An application of nucleophilic cyclization and oxidation of nonemissive Schiff bases via cyanide boosting copper catalysis to synthesize fluorescent benzazole derivatives in high conversion yield is disclosed. This approach is highlighted by broad substrate scope, fast reaction time, and mild conditions and can efficiently proceed in living cells or Arabidopsis root tissues. Furthermore, this methodology can be applied for selective detection of Cu2+ and CN-.