A phenolic Schiff base for highly selective sensing of fluoride and cyanide via different channels

A chemosensor based on phenolic Schiff base bearing a pyrene group (sensor 1) has been synthesized and demonstrated. Sensor 1 showed a highly selective colorimetric response to fluoride anions based on a deprotonation process and fluorescent response to cyanide anions (606-fold fluorescence quantum yield enhancement) based on a cyclization process. Moreover, the cyclization of phenolic Schiff bases induced by cyanide could be used as a new way to synthesize 2-substituted benzoxazoles.

A chemosensor based on phenolic Schiff base bearing a pyrene group has been synthesized and demonstrated, which shows highly selective colorimetric and fluorescent sensing abilities for fluoride and cyanide anions via deprotonation and cyclization process, respectively.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide