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 Cu 2+ 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 Cu 2+, the quenched fluorescence of the solution of P1 by Cu 2+ 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.