Royal Society of Chemistry, RSC Advances, 104(6), p. 101853-101861, 2016
DOI: 10.1039/c6ra23156j
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Three chromogenic anionic chemodosimeters (1–3) based on silylated imines were synthesized and characterized. Solutions of compound 1 in acetonitrile with 4.0% (v/v) of water are colorless, but with the addition of several anions only CN, and to a lesser extent F, changed the color of the solutions to orange. However, compounds 2 and 3 were selective toward F in acetonitrile. The nucleophilic attack of F or CN on the silicon center of the chemodosimeters, through an SN2@Si mechanism, released colored phenolates as leaving groups. PGSE NMR data corroborated the mechanism postulated for the reaction. Kinetics studies were carried out, revealing that a higher second-order rate constant was obtained for the reaction of 1 with F. The addition of water to the system reduces the nucleophilicity of F, showing a slower second-order rate constant in relation to CN, the latter anion being less hydrated and the more reactive species for the nucleophilic attack on the silicon center of 1.