Structurally characterized salamo-based mononuclear Cu(II) complex fluorogenic sensor with high selectivity for CN− and Cys-Cys.

• A salamo-like mononuclear Cu(II) complex probe L-Cu2+ was synthesized and characterized structurally. • The sensing mechanisms of the probe L-Cu2+ towards CN− and Cys-Cys were fully verified through fluorescence, UV and ESI-mass experiments. • Test strips are available for fast visual identification of CN− and Cys-Cys using the probe L-Cu2+. A highly selective "off-on" fluorogenic sensor (L-Cu2+), as an aldehyde-exposed salamo-based mononuclear Cu(II) complex, was designed and used as an effective sensor for the double pronged sensing of cyanide ion (CN−) and Cystine (Cys-Cys). By combining and calculating with experimental data, it can be fully characterized by a variety of spectroscopy techniques. The LODs of CN− and Cys-Cys were calculated to be 3.3792 × 10−7 and 1.2757 × 10−7 M. Consequently, the developed sensor showed good sensitivity and selectivity for CN− and Cys-Cys in DMF/water (v / v , 9:1) solution. Meanwhile, the designed complex sensor can discriminate and detect CN− ion but not other multiple anions. No interference from other ions was observed during the detection of CN− and Cys-Cys. Finally, we made known the rationality of fluorogenic "turn on" response phenomenon of L-Cu2+ to CN− and Cys-Cys by means of ESI-mass spectrometry, FT-IR spectra analyses to further understand experimental consideration results observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]