A pillar[5]arene-based cyanide sensor bearing on a novel cyanide-induced self-assemble mechanism

We have designed and synthesized a novel copillar[5]arene-based chemosensor, which employ 8-hydroxyquinoline group as a binding site and signal group. By a novel cyanide-induced self-assemble mechanism, the pillar[5]arene-based chemosensor shown high sensitivity and selectivity for cyanide in aqueous media. When cyanide was added to the solution of the chemosensor, a strong chartreuse fluorescence appeared. The detection limit of the fluorescent spectrum is 1.08 × 10^-8 mol L^-1 for cyanide. Moreover, test strips based on the sensor were fabricated, the chemosensor is a good cyanide test kits. In addition, we made life applications of cyanide detected, the chemosensor is also could detect cyanide in aqueous extracts from sprouting potatoes. It is worth mentioning that cyanide-induced self-assemble mechanism is a novel strategy for the design of pillararene based chemosensor. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, it's the first example of pillararene based cyanide chemosensors.