tert-Butylnitrite promoted one-component based direct synthesis of 2-cyano substituted maleimide probes and their fluorescence turn-off sensing towards Fe3+

Abstract

Herein, we report a fluorescent probe, 2-cyano substituted maleimide, for the efficient detection of iron (+3) ions. This novel transformation proceeds in the presence of tert-butylnitrite, avoiding expensive ligands or additives or amines and has a broad substrate scope affording a variety of 2-cyano substituted maleimides in moderate to good yields. However, this intramolecular cyclization is a one-component as well as one-pot based reaction protocol.