Pillar[5]arene and Azine Derivative Assembly Improved Dual-Channel Detection of CN^-

Abstract

The cyanide anion (CN ^-) is known to be one of the most toxic anions. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a reliable, sensitive, selective, rapid and effective method for the detection of CN ^-. Here, a self-assembly strategy based on pillar[5]arene P5 and azine derivative AZ was used to construct supramolecular sensors, and it was found that the detection effect of CN ^- was significantly improved by the assembly strategy. The sensitivity of the assembled sensor P5-AZ to CN ^- is more than 10 times higher than that of AZ. The detect mechanism was further investigated by theoretical calculations and ¹H NMR. The results showed that AZ detects CN ^- by a deprotonation process with fluorescence enhancement, while P5-AZ improves the sensitivity of CN ^- recognition through hydrogen bonding, anion-π and anion-dipole interactions, as well as the strong bonding ability of the assembly. Supramolecular assembly P5-AZ has the advantages of low toxicity, high sensitivity, and more importantly, it provides a method to detect CN ^- sensitivity in the aqueous phase and organisms by host-guest assembly.

Keywords

Host-guest assembly / Improves sensing sensitivity / Pillar[5]arene / Azine derivative / Cyanide / Supramolecular sensors / Energy transfer / Colorimetric/fluorescence dual-channel / Fluorescence cell imaging

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2024 SIOC, CAS, Shanghai, & WILEY-VCH GmbH.