Terpyridine-lanthanide complexes respond to fluorophosphate containing nerve gas G-agent surrogates

A study was conducted to demonstrate the response of terpyridine-lanthanide complexes to fluorophosphate containing nerve gas G-agent surrogates. The study demonstrated the ability to distinguish the G-type surrogate, diethylchlorophosphate (SAS-CI) from a number of other organophosphates, including pinacoly methyl phosphonic acid, called SOS. Three different lanthanide ions, such as Dy, Tb, and Eu were studied along with three derivatives of terpy. These lanthanide ions showed immediate response times and detection levels near 75 ppb, which is below the minimum of 1.7 ppm. Another surrogate, diisopropylfluorophosphate (SAS-F) that captures the close structural and chemical similarity of sarin gas, was also studied, increasing the detection limit to 6 ppb, as the reactivity of the fluorophosphate is higher than chlorophosphate.