2,3-Diaryl-1,1,4,4-tetracyanobutadienes as Colorimetric Sensors for Sulfide Ion in Aqueous Media

Abstract

AbstractTwo diaryl derivatives of 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene were synthesized for use as colorimetric ion sensors in aqueous media. The key synthetic step involved a [2+2]-cycloaddition/retro-cycloaddition between an electron-rich diarylethyne and electron-deficient tetracyanoethene. The compound bearing two sulfonamide groups showed good selectivity toward hydrogen sulfide ion, with a detection limit of 15.5 μM. The use of this sensor for the quantitative analysis of hydrogen sulfide ion in water samples was successfully demonstrated.