A ratiometric, colorimetric fluorescent probe with a large emission shift for the rapid detection of diethyl chlorophosphate.

A new ratiometric and colorimetric probe (SWJT-16) based on the isophorone skeleton to detect diethyl chlorophosphite (DCP), a nerve agent mimic, was designed and synthesized. SWJT-16 underwent a nucleophilic substitution reaction with DCP in DMF, leading to a large emission shift (Δ λ em = 174 nm) accompanied by a significant color change from blue to yellow under visible light. All these changes occurred within 6 seconds, faster than those of most reported ratiometric fluorescent probes for DCP. Furthermore, SWJT-16 was successfully employed to monitor gaseous DCP.