Two new diaminomalenonitrile (DMN) based Schiff bases have been synthesized and explored as a highly efficient receptor for fluoride and cyanide anions. Detection of anions induced by deprotonation of –NH2followed by transfer of proton to the electron deficient nitrogen atom of –CN which induce the strong charge transfer (CT). Anion selectivity was controlled by the fluorophore attached to the DMN, the fluorophore can tune the electron push–pull property. This phenomenon was confirmed by1H NMR and DFT calculations. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.