Turn off-on fluorescent recognition of Cu2+ and Cys in aqueous medium: Implementation of molecular logic gate and cell imaging studies

The present communication incorporates utilization of a simple Schiff base (RO) fruitfully for the turn off-on successive fluorescent recognition of Cu2+ and Cys in aqueous media. The single crystal of RO-Cu2+ ensemble revealed a binding pattern which ultimately leads to quenching of the green fluorescence of RO. Interestingly the quenched fluorescence of the RO-Cus2+ ensemble was revived selectively in the presence of Cys via Cu2+ displacement approach. The selective off-on behavior of RO towards Cu2+ and Cys was consequently used as inputs to build up an implication (IMP) logic gate. Moreover, the RO exhibited successful bio-imaging of Cu2+ and Cys also in E. coli cells. © 2016 The Chemical Society of Japan.