Water-soluble fluorescent probe for multiple ions detection based on different pH moderation.

Cyanide and bisulfite are hypertoxic even in low concentration. The development of convenient methods of the detection of analyte is critically important. In this paper, the dual ions fluorescent probe CIM with superior water-solubility has been designed and synthesized with low detection limits of 0.35 μM (for CN− with a linear relationship of 0.996) and 23 nM (for HSO 3 − with a linear relationship of 0.993). Modest pH moderation could be easily used to detect the CN− and HSO 3 − without reciprocal interference. The specific detection is not interfered with other potential coexisted species. The possible recognition mechanism between probe and analytes is illustrated by NMR, HRMS and computational simulation. Both analytes undergo 1, 4-addition reaction on the ethenyl of the probe, which is rare in lots of previous work and results in a fluorescent color change. Image 1 • The dual fluorescent probe CIM has superior water-solubility. • The detection limits of cyanide and bisulfite are separately 3.5 × 10−7 M and 2.3 × 10−8 M. • pH moderation could be used to detect CN− and HSO 3 − without reciprocal interference. • The reaction mechanism is investigated by 1H NMR spectra, HRMS and theoretical calculation. • 1,4-addition on the probe is supported by the simulated absorption spectra and emission spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]