An Imidazole-Functionalized Polyfluorene Derivative as Sensitive Fluorescent Probe for Metal Ions and Cyanide

To develop sensitive and selective CN− chemosensors, a new imidazole-functionalized polyfluorene (P1) was designed and obtained conveniently, the fluorescence of which could be completely quenched by Cu2+ ions at the concentration as low as 0.20 ppm in diluted solutions. By utilizing the much higher stability constant of the complex of CN− and Cu2+, the quenched fluorescence of the solution of P1 by Cu2+ ions could recover upon the addition of trace CN− anions, with the detection limit down to 0.31 ppm, making P1 a novel, sensitive and selective cyanide probe.