A ratiometric fluorescent probe (Probe) is facilely synthesized via the ethylene bridging of N-ethylcarbazole-3-formaldehyde and 1,1,2-trimethyl-3-ethyl-1H-benz[e]indolium iodide.
It is a useful fluorescent probe for monitoring cyanide ion at very low concentrations (1–2 μM), quantitatively.
The detection limit of probe for CN− is found to be 0.23 μM.
It exhibits a large Stokes shift, good selectivity, sensitivity and stability.
Fluorescent CN− imaging in living cells by this probe is further successfully applied.