title: Acridinium salt based fluorescent and colorimetric chemosensor for the detection of cyanide in water.
abstract: A new, selective chemosensor has been developed to detect cyanide in water at micromolar concentrations. The acridinium salt used in this sensor system is prepared in a single step from an acridine orange base. Detection is based on the irreversible, 1:1 stoichiometric, nucleophilic addition of cyanide to the 9-position of the acridinium ion. This process induces a large decrease in fluorescence intensity and a marked color change. The selectivity of the system in aqueous media for CN- over other anions is remarkably high. Also, the sensitivity of both the fluorescence- and colorimetric-based assay is below the 1.9 microM suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the maximum allowable cyanide concentration in drinking water. Thus, the chemodosimeter should be applicable as a practical system for the monitoring of CN- concentrations in aqueous samples. [structure: see text]
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Center for Bioactive Molecular Hybrids (CBMH), Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jinsung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tae
mesh_terms: D000165:Acridine Orange; D000166:Acridines / Q000737:chemistry*; D003124:Colorimetry; D003486:Cyanides / Q000032:analysis*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000166:Acridines; D003486:Cyanides; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012997:Solvents; D000165:Acridine Orange; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide