An ESIPT-based chromone-coumarin coupled fluorogenic dyad for specific recognition of sarin gas surrogate, diethylchlorophosphate

Abstract

Extremely toxic G-series nerve agents are used as weapons for mass destruction in wars and terrorist attacks. So, rapid and accurate detection of these dangerous nerve agents is immediately required to save our environment and nation. In this article, we have designed and developed a chromone-coumarin coupled fluorogenic probe MATC that can selectively detect sarin gas mimicking diethylchlorophosphate (DCP) with the detection and quantification limit in the nM range. MATC solution with DCP exhibits remarkable fluorescence intensity at wavelength 465 nm, displaying bright cyan color photoluminosity under the exposure of 365 nm UV lamp, which is also manifested from the color chromaticity diagram as a result of disruption of excited state intramolecular proton (ESIPT) process due to the phosphorylation process. Straining our probe, MATC, on Whatman-41 filter paper, we fabricated a paper strips-based test kit for on-the-spot recognition of sarin gas as a movable and displayable photonic device. A dip-stick and dipped-vial-conical-flask experiment has also been demonstrated to recognize and quantify DCP in the vapor phase. The present report completely describes a fluorogenic and specific chemosensor to identify and quantify deadly nerve agents within the stores of analogous organophosphates and inorganic phosphates.