A simple thiourea based colorimetric sensor for cyanide anion

A simple and easily synthesized colorimetric anion sensor, based on a thiourea moiety as a binding subunit on a 1,2-cyclohexane backbone and a p-nitrophenyl group as a signaling unit, has been synthesized in a one step procedure. The selective sensing of anions, particularly cyanide, has been investigated in DMSO by UV–vis titration, 1H NMR titration techniques and through ‘naked eye’ observation experiments.