Colorimetric and fluorometric probe for the highly selective and sensitive detection of cyanide based on coumarinyloxime

We report a coumarinyloxime-based fluorescent probe (1) for cyanide. The probe has shown a highly selective and sensitive response to the cyanide anion over other various anions with a submicromolar limit of fluorimetric detection (LOD = 0.49 μM). When CN− was added to 1, probe 1 showed dramatic fluorescence and color changes, which were easily observable with the naked eye in aqueous solvent.