Ratiometric fluorescent probe for triphosgene detection and its application in electrospun fluorescent fibers

Abstract

Triphosgene poses a potentially great threat to human health and safety. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop an effective method to realize the inexpensive, on-site, convenient, and rapid detection of triphosgene. Herein, based on the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer mechanism, a new fluorescent probe DPIM was designed and synthesized, which realized the rapid ratiometric identification and detection of triphosgene for the first time. Its limit of detection for triphosgene was 3.54 × 10⁻⁸ M, and it had a large Stokes shift of 198 nm. Its recognition mechanism was comprehensively analyzed. A smartphone detection platform and probe-loaded test paper were prepared to realize the inexpensive, on-site, and convenient detection of triphosgene. DPIM effectively enabled the ratiometric fluorescence “turn-on” for detecting residual triphosgene in the sand, showing its application practicality. Most importantly, the probe was incorporated into nanofibers and successfully used to monitor gaseous triphosgene with high specificity, showing its excellent application potential. This study provides a promising analytical tool for the rapid quantitative detection of triphosgene in solution and gaseous phases.