Chromogenic chemodosimeter based on a silylated azo compound detects cyanide in water and cassava

[Display omitted] •A novel silylated azocompound (1) synthesized and fully characterized.•Structural characterization of 1 through X–ray diffraction.•A chromogenic chemodosimeter for the naked-eye and quantitative detection of cyanide.•Highly selective detection of cyanide in aqueous micellar system.•Naked–eye and quantitative detection of cyanide in tap water and cassava roots. A novel silylated azo compound was synthesized and fully characterized. This compound was used in a chromogenic chemodosimeter approach for the highly selective detection of cyanide (CN–) in acetonitrile/water and in an aqueous micellar system. The anion breaks the Si–O bond, delivering a dye and causing a change in the color of the solution (from yellow to blue). The chemodosimeter was employed for the naked–eye and quantitative detection of CN– in tap water and cassava roots.