Design and synthesis of fluorescence sensors for nerve agents

ORGN 491

Li Cui, cuili@unr.edu, Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0216 and Thomas W. Bell, Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada Reno, 1664 North Virginia St., Mail Stop 216, Reno, NV 89557.
Lanthanide complexes have been designed as potential fluorescence sensors that can detect organophosphonate nerve agents. The interaction of lanthanide complexes with phosphates was investigated by means of quantum mechanical calculations. The optimized geometries of the adducts were obtained by density functional theory (DFT) using the B3LYP hybrid function. Several azamacrocyclic and bicyclic ligands, and the corresponding europium complexes have been synthesized. The emission spectra for the europium complexes were recorded in the presence of phosphate anions or diethylchlorophosphate (DCP). The formation of the europium adducts generally caused an increase in the intensity of fluorescence. The europium complexes sensors will be immobilized on nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO), a high surface area material, to fabricate working sensors.
 

Materials, Devices and Switches
1:00 PM-4:40 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- La Nouvelle, Blrm. C, Oral

Division of Organic Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008