Low Molecular Weight Fluorescent Probes for the Detection of Organophosphates

Authors

Rashid Mia, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Peter J. Cragg, University of Brighton
Karl J. Wallace, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2021

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

School

Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Abstract

Three Low Molecular Weight Fluorescent probes (LMFPs) coumarin-enamine (3a-c) have been synthesized, and their photophysical properties have been studied in different solvent systems (DMSO, CH₃CN, DMF, MeOH, EtOH, Me₂CO, MeCO₂Et, CHCl₃, C₆H₅Me, and C₆H₆). Dimethyl sulfoxide was chosen as the optimum solvent to investigate 3a for organophosphate detection. On deprotonation of the oxime, a significant spectroscopic shift is observed in the UV–Vis spectrum (Δ ≈ 35 nm). The fluorescence spectrum shows a broad featureless band at 535 nm that shifts hypochromically. Both the UV–vis and fluorescence spectra undergo drastic optical responses when the OP-adduct is formed. Diisopropyl chlorophosphate was found to have the most extensive changes among the phosphorus (V) center OPs investigated (diisopropyl chlorophosphate, diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), dimethoate, omethoate, chlorfenvinphos, and carbaryl). The fluorescence turn “off-on” response is a consequence of the PET mechanism, supported by the molecular modeling calculations. A limit of detection was calculated to be 1.1 ppm for DFP (a nerve agent simulant). Fluorescence lifetime studies were carried out, which showed significant decay times for 3a, its oximate, and its DCP-adduct of τ = 1.56, 3.23, and 1.55 ns, respectively, to aid in our understanding of selectivity.

Publication Title

Journal of Luminescence

Volume

235

Recommended Citation

Mia, R., Cragg, P. J., Wallace, K. J. (2021). Low Molecular Weight Fluorescent Probes for the Detection of Organophosphates. Journal of Luminescence, 235.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/18487