4-(Pyren-1-ylimino)methylphenol and its silylated derivative as chromogenic chemosensors highly selective for fluoride or cyanide

Abstract

Two novel compounds, 4-(pyren-1-ylimino)methylphenol and 4-[(triisopropylsilyl)oxy] phenylmethylenepyren-1-amine) were synthesized. Solutions of 4-(pyren-1-ylimino)methylphenol in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) are colorless, but on addition of cyanide and fluoride they become colored due to the deprotonation of the chemosensor. The system is highly selective toward cyanide with the addition of water. This compound can be solubilized in water with addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide above its critical micellar concentration. The pKa of the compound in water was determined as 10.49 ± 0.02 and this value is lowered in micellar medium to 7.49 ± 0.02, which means that only cyanide is sufficiently basic to achieve the deprotonation of the compound. Solutions of 4-[(triisopropylsilyl)oxy]phenylmethylenepyren-1-amine) in DMSO are colorless, but they are colored in the presence of cyanide and fluoride and only cyanide could be detected in DMSO-water mixture. The nucleophilic attack of the anions on the silicon center of the compound releases colored 4-(pyren-1-ylimino)methylphenolate, enabling the detection of nucleophilic analytes.