Positional isomeric chemosensors: fluorescent and colorimetric cyanide detection based on Si–O cleavage

Abstract

Highly selective and sensitive fluorescent and colorimetric cis/trans isomers 3 were rationally designed and investigated for the fast detection and visualization of cyanide ions (TBACN and NaCN) via CN-promoted Si–O cleavage in aqueous solution and in the solid state. The CN-promoted desilylation induced significant variations of the optical signals of cis- and trans-3, which mainly depend upon the steric arrangement of the Si–O group in relation to the π-extended system.