A Zn2+-specific fluorescent molecular probe for the selective detection of endogenous cyanide in biorelevant samples.

A Zn(2+)-specific molecular probe 3 was developed for the selective detection of CN(-) under aqueous conditions. The fluorescent Zn(2+) complex of 3 upon CN(-) addition generates a bright blue fluorescence that allows the detection of the latter and is useful for the screening of natural products with and without endogenous cyanide content.