Abstract

A simple D ? A (donor ? acceptor) type receptor ((2E, 2?E)-3, 3?-(10-octyl-10H-phenothiazine-3,7-diyl)bis(2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)acrylonitrile)) (PBTA) containing nitrile-vinyl linkage was designed and completely characterized. The receptor PBTA detects CN? ions based on “turn-off” effect with admirable spectral properties. It also owns some of the merits like “naked-eye” color change, ultrafast response (90 s), lowest detection limit (1.25 × 10-10 M) as well as quantitation limit (4.17 × 10-10 M) with the pH range 4–11 which is more suitable pH to make use of the receptor PBTA in physiological medium. The instant detecting ability of the receptor over CN? ions was proved using paper test strip and cotton balls. Further, the utilization of the receptor PBTA was also extended to track CN? ions in realistic samples (water and food samples) and in HeLa cells bioimaging. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.