Aryl carbinols as nerve agent probes. Influence of the conjugation on the sensing properties

Two new aryl carbinols (1 and 3) have been synthesised and characterised and their ability as OFF-ON probes for the chromogenic detection of the nerve agent simulant in acetonitrile has been tested. In addition compound 2 has been also studied. The carbinols suffered a phosphorylation reaction followed by an elimination process giving rise to the corresponding carbocations. This transformation of the carbinol into the carbocation is responsible for a significant color change.