Abstract:Nerve agents, including Tabun, and Soman, are an increasing homeland security concern.  Facilemethods allowing real time detectionof nerve agent, especially colorimetric assays that can be visualizedwith “naked eyes”, will be desirable to both government officials and the general public.

Avisual and highly fluorescent method fordetectionnerve agent simulant was rdeveloped based on Lossen Rearrangement of Rhodamine-hydroxamate.  Upon addition of nerve agent stimulant, the substrate turned into deep red color and gave highly fluorescent species, allowing sensitive and quick assay of the analyst.  Given the sensitivity and robustness (compatible with aqueous conditions) of this assay, rhodamine-hydroxmate isof greatutility aschemosensorfor detection of nerve agents with the aid of instruments or possibly “naked eyes”.

Scheme 1: Nerve agent simulant initated Lossen rearrangemt of Rhodamine-hydroxamate

Author:Shoufa Han, Zhongwei Xue, Zhen Wang and Ting Bin Wen

Publication:Chem. Commun., 2010, Advance Article

DOI: 10.1039/C0CC02881A , Communication