A photochromic phenoxyquinone based cyanide ion sensor

We have developed a new chemosensor system for cyanide ion that is based on a photochromic material. We observed that addition of cyanide anion to a UV irradiated solution of a phenoxynaphthacenequinone derivative brought about a significant change in the absorption spectra that enabled detection of cyanide ion in a selective and sensitive manner. A carbanion intermediate was shown to be responsible for the long wavelength absorption band (630–940 nm) that is generated by cyanide addition.