A highly specific BODIPY-based fluorescent probe for the detection of nerve-agent simulants

Abstract

Nerve agents such as Sarin, Soman and Tabun are all very toxic organophosphorus (OP) compounds capable of being used as chemical weapons. Unfortunately, the ability to rapidly sense OPCs is still an ongoing challenging. In this report, we designed and synthesized a fast-response fluorescent probe (1) for the detection of OP nerve agent simulants with high selectivity and sensitivity. The probe contains an electron donor-to-acceptor system in which a BODIPY moiety acts as a reporter group and the hydroxyl group as a reaction site for nerve agent simulants. The electron deficient nitrile group was introduced to lower the background fluorescence of the probe. A significant enhancement of fluorescence intensities at 531nm was observed upon gradual addition of nerve agent simulants on excitation at 480nm. The emission intensity rapidly reached its maximum within only 540s on adding 6 equiv. of nerve agent simulants with a quantum yield of the reaction product of 0.808, 81-fold larger than the probe itself (Ф=0.01). A color change in following a paper test experiment verified its portable application.