A new sensitive and selective fluorescence probe for detection of cyanide

A class of new fluorescence probe α-p-trifluoroacetamidophenyl-4-alkoxycinnamonitrile for detection of cyanide anion was synthesized by the trifluoroacetylation of the fluorophore α-p-aminophenyl-4-alkoxycinnamonitrile. It was found that the probe could selectively detect cyanide anions, even in the presence of hydrogen sulfite and dicarbonate anions which were reported to easily interfere with the detection. The concentration of the cyanide anions that could be detected was as low as 1.0 μM.