Probing anion and cation with novel salicylidene Schiff base receptor appended with 1, 10-phenanthroline: Mimicking INHIBIT molecular logic gate

A novel tailor-made 1, 10-phenanthroline based Schiff base, 2-((E)-(1, 10-phenanthroline -5-ylimino) methyl) phenol, (1) receptor has been designed, synthesized and reported as multi -ion responsive scaffolds for the sensing of both anions and cations via chromogenic methods. In CH3CN, receptor 1 displayed excellent selectivity for F- ions amongst anions and for Al3+ and Hg2+ ions amongst cations. Moreover, the colorless solution of 1 turned yellow only with F- ions due to new absorption band in visible region. Receptor 1 formed 1:1 complex with F- ions while 1:2 with the Hg-2 /Al3+ ions as revealed by the separate Job's plot analysis. Receptor 1 can also mimic the functioning of TRANSFER and INHIBIT molecular logic gate with chemical inputs from Al3+ and F- ions.