One diethylamine coumarin derivative with nitro substituted chalcone structure as chemosensor for cyanide and copper ions

One diethylamine coumarin derivative with nitro substituted chalcone structure was synthesized via typical condensation reaction between 4-nitro-2-(hydroxyl)acetophenone with 7-(diethylamino)coumarinaldehyde in good yields. The investigation indicated that the compound exhibits quickly obvious UV–vis absorption, color change and fluorescence response to cyanide and copper ions in acetonitrile conditions. The bonding mechanism based on spectra change and in situ 1H NMR suggested that cyanide is bonded to 4-position of coumarin and 1:2 complexation between compound and copper ion forms.