A novel development of dithizone as a dual-analyte colorimetric chemosensor: Detection and determination of cyanide and cobalt (II) ions in dimethyl sulfoxide/water media with biological applications

•The first receptor for detection of Co2+ and CN− through the same detection method.•Our probe is commercially available.•Fast response time less than 30 s which is much lower than previously reported probes.•Acts via a nucleophilic addition mode makes it efficient for CN− in aqueous mediaHas high selectivity for CN− over fluoride, acetate and benzoate.•Has high selectivity for CN− over fluoride, acetate and benzoate.

The behavior of dithizone (DTZ), an easily available dye has been studied for the first time in chromogenic sensing of CN− as an anionic species and for Co2+ as a cationic species in DMSO/H2O media. So employing DTZ an efficient colorimetric chemosensor was afforded with a chromogenic selectivity for Co2+ over other cations with detection limit of 0.04 μmol L−1. The complex of Co2+ with DTZ also displayed ability to detect up to 0.43 μmol L−1 CN− (K+ salts) among other competing anions through a fast response time of less than 30 s which is much lower than most recently reported chromogenic probes. The linear dynamic ranges for the determination of Co2+ and CN− were 0.3–4.4 and 3.3–58.6 μmol L−1 respectively. This method could have potential application in a variety of cases requiring rapid and accurate analysis of Co2+ and CN− for human serum and water samples.

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