Novel “turn-on” fluorescent sensors for silver (I) based on the nicotinonitriles, containing a tricyanobutadiene moiety

[Display omitted] •Synthesis of novel pyridines with tricyanobutadienes fragment (TCPy) was described.•Spectral-luminescent and metal-ion-binding properties were studied investigated.•The synthesized compounds showed turn-on fluorescent response to Ag+ in aqueous solution. The novel turn-on fluorescent chemosensors for silver ion based on nicotinonitriles, containing a tricyanobutadiene moiety (tricyanopyridine, TCPy) were developed. The enchantment of fluorescent emission can be observed by naked eye, even in the presence of interference cations. The binding mode turned out to be a 1: 1 ratio as determined using Job’s plot.