Abstract
The Schiff-base probe
H
2
VL
[6,6'-((1E,1'E)-hydrazine-1,2 diylidenebis(methanylylidene))bis(2-methoxyphenol)] is synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD).
H
2
VL
is able to detect selectively acetate ion (OAc-) colorimetrically over other anions with 1:1 co-ordination. The detection limit is found to be 4.93 µM. On the other hand, fluorescence intensity of the receptor is drastically enhanced with Zn
2+
and Cd
2+
in the presence of acetate as counter anion. N, N-Dimethyl formamide (DMF) or Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and acetate (OAc-) was the best solvent and counter anion for Zn
2+
/Cd
2+
-sensing compared with other solvents and anions, respectively. Detection limit for Zn
2+
and Cd
2+
are calculated to be 1.94 µM and 1.99 µM, respectively. The strong selective emissive behavior could be attributed to the CHEF (chelation-enhanced fluorescence) process. According to the changes in output emission intensity in DMSO in response to the set of ions (Zn
2+
, Cd
2+
and OAc¯) as input variables, the function of 3-input multifunctional molecular logic circuits has been demonstrated. The molecular docking studies of
H
2
VL
with DNA and BSA are also performed to confirm its possible bioactivity.