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

The highly selective and sensitive fluorescence "light-up" probe, 5'-(dimethylamino)-2'-formyl-N-hydroxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2-carboxamide(PTS), 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 PTS yields an isocyanate that quickly undergoes Lossen rearrangement to produce an aniline that condenses intramolecularly to a fluorescent phenanthridine system. PTS shows superior properties to probe DCP, such as rapid response (within 100 s), low detection limit (10.4 nM), specificity, and excellent linearity (R2 = 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.

A "Turn-On" fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective detection of fluoride ions based on aggregation-induced emission.

Based on the fluorophore of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (HBT) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties, a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probe PBT towards F- was investigated. "Turn-On" fluorescence type signaling was realized by employing fluoride-selective cleavage of the latent thiophosphinated probe in mixed aqueous media. The probe is designed in such a way that the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) of the HBT moiety becomes blocked. The chemodosimetric approach of F- to the probe results in the recovery of the ESIPT by removal of a free AIE-active HBT moiety through a subsequent hydrolysis process. The F- detection limit of the probe was 3.8 nM in the dynamic range of 0.5 µM to 10 µM. In addition, the proposed probe has been used to detect F- in water samples and toothpaste samples with satisfying results.