A novel BODIPY-based fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective detection of nerve agent simulants through base-assisted photo-induced electron transfer process

Abstract A fluorescent BODIPY probe (SO-BOD) conjugated with a 2-salicylaldoxime group via an ethynyl spacer was designed and synthesized for highly sensitive and selective detection of DCNP (a simulant of Tabun). The probe exhibited significant fluorescent quenching in the presence of Et3N, and 30-fold fluorescence enhancement was achieved in the presence of DCNP. Integration of experimental and computational methods well illustrated that these fluorescence variations were attributed to the intramolecular photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process. Except for the low limit of detection (34 nM) to DCNP, SO-BOD also showed a rapid response (t1/2 = 175 s) and high selectivity. Furthermore, naked-eye detection of DCNP was carried out in both the liquid and vapor phases by test strips immobilized with the probe.