Concise and Efficient Fluorescent Probe via an Intromolecular Charge Transfer for the Chemical Warfare Agent Mimic Diethylchlorophosphate Vapor Detection

Anal Chem. 2016 Feb 16;88(4):2497-501. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b04777. Epub 2016 Jan 29.

Abstract

Sarin, used as chemical warfare agents (CWAs) for terrorist attacks, can induce a number of virulent effects. Therefore, countermeasures which could realize robust and convenient detection of sarin are in exigent need. A concise charge-transfer colorimetric and fluorescent probe (4-(6-(tert-butyl)pyridine-2-yl)-N,N-diphenylaniline, TBPY-TPA) that could be capable of real-time and on-site monitoring of DCP vapor was reported in this contribution. Upon contact with DCP, the emission band red-shifted from 410 to 522 nm upon exposure to DCP vapor. And the quenching rate of TBPY-TPA reached up to 98% within 25 s. Chemical substances such as acetic acid (HAc), dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), pinacolyl methylphosphonate (PAMP), and triethyl phosphate (TEP) do not interfere with the detection. A detection limit for DCP down to 2.6 ppb level is remarkably achieved which is below the Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health concentration. NMR data suggested that a transformation of the pyridine group into pyridinium salt via a cascade reaction is responsible for the sensing process which induced the dramatic fluorescent red shift. All of these data suggest TBPY-TPA is a promising fluorescent sensor for a rapid, simple, and low-cost method for DCP detection, which could be easy to prepare as a portable chemosensor kit for its practical application in real-time and on-site monitoring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / chemistry*
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / analysis*
  • Chemical Warfare Agents / chemistry
  • Colorimetry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / analysis*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / analysis*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemistry
  • Pyridines / chemistry*
  • Volatilization

Substances

  • 4-(6-(tert-butyl)pyridine-2-yl)-N,N-diphenylaniline
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Pyridines
  • diethylchlorophosphate