A fluorescent probe generating in situthe reactive species for rapid and selective detection of mustard gasElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Summary of reported fluorescent probes for sulfur mustard and its simulant, synthesis and characterization of related compounds, chemical and photostability, the sensing properties of PCS, and NMR spectra of related compounds. See DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ay00350g

Sulfur mustard (SM) is an important chemical warfare agent (CWA) and has been used frequently in various conflicts. It is important to develop a facile, rapid, sensitive and selective detection method for SM. In this work, we constructed a novel fluorescent probe PCS capable of generating active sensing species for rapid and selective detection of SM and its simulant CEES (2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide). PCS exhibits excellent chemical and photostability and can generate reactive species in situfor rapid (within 90 s, at 60 °C) and selective detection of SM and CEES in solution with high sensitivity (∼nM level). Moreover, PCS could enable the detection of mustards in situ. A test strip with PCS and KOH was prepared and realized the sensitive and selective detection of CEES in the gas phase. In addition, the PCS probe can realize facile and rapid detection of CEES-contaminated surfaces by spraying its sensing system (ethanol solution containing PCS and KOH). The sensing mechanism was well demonstrated through the separation and characterization of the sensing product.