A novel dual-channel chemosensor for CN- using asymmetric double-azine derivatives in aqueous media and its application in bitter almond.

In this paper, we have designed and synthesized a novel sensor L1 based on asymmetric double-azine derivatives, which showed both "naked eye" recognition and fluorescence responses for CN- in DMSO/H2O (v/v=4:1, pH=7.20) solution. This simple sensor L1 could distinguish CN- from coexisting anions via the way of deprotonation and sensing mechanism of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), and the minimum detection limit on fluorescence response of the sensor L1 towards CN- was down to 9.47×10-7M. Moreover, we have successfully utilized the sensor L1 to detect CN- in bitter almond. Test strips containing L1 were also prepared, which could act as a practical colorimetric tool to detect CN- in aqueous media.