Fluorogenic detection of cyanide ions in pure aqueous media through intramolecular crossed-benzoin reaction: limitations unveiled and possible solutions

Reaction-based fluorogenic sensing of lethal cyanide anion in aqueous matrices remains a big challenge. We have revisited the approach proposed by the Kim group (Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 7709-7712) and highlighted its limitations related to poor aqueous stability of probes and impossibility to achieve molecular amplification despite the assumed catalytic activation mechanism. Self-immolative linker strategies were considered to obtain usable cyanide-responsive chemodosimeters and statistical analyses of fluorescence data have been deepened to accurately delineate their sensing performances, especially limit of detection (LOD).