“Covalent-Assembly”-Based Fluorescent Probe for Detection of a Nerve-Agent Mimic (DCP) via Lossen Rearrangement

Abstract

The highly selective and sensitive fluorescence "light-up" probe, 5'-(dimethylamino)-2'-formyl-<i>N</i>-hydroxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxamide(<b>PTS</b>), has been fabricated for the nerve-agent mimic diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP). The probe is designed by combining two novel strategies of "covalent assembly" and Lossen rearrangement. Formation of a phosphoryl intermediate from DCP and a hydroxamic acid group in <b>PTS</b> yields an isocyanate that quickly undergoes Lossen rearrangement to produce an aniline that condenses intramolecularly to a fluorescent phenanthridine system. <b>PTS</b> shows superior properties to probe DCP, such as rapid response (within 100 s), low detection limit (10.4 nM), specificity, and excellent linearity (<i>R</i>² = 0.9993) in the range from 2 to 16 μM. More importantly, its application of detecting DCP vapor has also been achieved with satisfying results.