Polymer-Bound 4-Pyridyl-5-hydroxyethyl-thiazole Fluorescent Chemosensors for the Detection of Organophosphate Nerve Agent Simulants

Fluorescent sensors have been synthesized for organophosphate nerve agent detection. The resulting 4-pyridyl-5-hydroxyethyl structures react with organophosphate nerve agent simulants such as diethylchlorophosphate and diisopropylfluorophosphate and cyclize to form a dihydroquinolizinium ring that results in an increased fluorescence response to long-wave UV excitation. These sensors have been functionalized with monomeric substitutions that allow for covalent incorporation into a polymer matrix for organophosphate detection to develop a fieldable sensor. In addition, inclusion of silicon dioxide into the polymer matrix eliminated false-positive responses from mineral acids, greatly advancing this class of sensors.