Development of BINOL-Si complexes with large stokes shifts and their application as chemodosimeters for nerve agent

Abstract Three fluorescent BINOL-Si complexes (FS1, FS2 and FS3) were rationally designed and synthesized to detect diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP), a mimic of lethal nerve agents. These three fluorescent probes showed green, yellow and orange fluorescence, respectively. Moreover, the series of fluorescent probes has the characteristics of fast response time (≤ 4 s), low detection limit (0.0097 μmol/L), high sensitivity and naked eye detection. More important, a fiber optic sensor capable of detecting DCP vapor in real time was also prepared for the first time, the lowest detection limits (down to 4.4 ppb) were all lower than that of the IDLH (immediately dangerous to life or health) concentration of Sarin (7.0 ppb).