Phosphonate Appended Porphyrins as Versatile Chemosensors for Selective Detection of Trinitrotoluene

Fluorescent molecular probes based on phosphonate-functionalized porphyrin derivatives have been designed for selective detection of nitroaromatics. It is shown that molecular recognition is based on cooperative hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions with electron-deficient molecules (nitroaromatic compounds, NACs), displaying superior detection toward trinitrotoluene (TNT). The PO functional groups decrease the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level of the porphyrins and, consequently, facilitate the electron inoculation to TNT through a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process. The hydroxyl groups of the phosphonates and pyrrole −NH protons are further engaged in donor–acceptor interactions with TNT by strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions (as evidenced by single crystal X-ray, NMR, and density functional theory (DFT)) showing turn off fluorescence behavior. The nonplanarity of the porphyrins induced by protonation at the central core of the porphyrin H4TPPA2+ undergoes additional interactions, furnishing an anomalous increase in the selectivity of TNT at nanomolar levels in solution (limit of detection, LOD ∼ 5 nM). Porphyrin-doped hybrid PMMA [poly­(methyl methacrylate)] polymer films demonstrate the reversibility of the fluorescence behavior and exhibit high photostability. The formation of discrete molecular aggregates on the surface of hybrid films and efficient diffusion of TNT vapors (10 ppb) displayed high selectivity in the solid state. The hybrid films are further used to demonstrate the detection of NACs in the aqueous medium, ultimately providing a platform for a practical strategy and implementation for the detection of toxic NACs.