Solvent-dependent and highly selective anion sensing and molecular logic application of bisindolylmaleimide derivatives

A series of bisindolylmaleimide dyes (IMs) with different N-substituents (IM-PFB, IM-TBA and IM-MB) and planarity (IMC-MB and IM-MB) were designed and synthesized to detect anions selectively and sensitively. The anion-sensing properties were investigated systematically by changing the N-substituents of maleimide, solvent type and molecular planarity. Results indicate that the anion recognition is significantly affected by the solvent type rather than the N-substituents. Different anion sensitivity in various solvents makes IMs selectively detect F- in ACN, H2PO4- in DCM and CN- in THF. Due to the fixed location of two NH groups, the dye IMC-MB with planar structure exhibits poor sensing selectivity in various solvents. The titration curves of anions show that the sensing mechanism of IMs in various solvents for anions is different. The further experimental and DFT/TDDFT calculation results demonstrate that the hydrogen bond interaction and deprotonation of one H atom take place in DCM and THF, respectively, and that the two interactions synchronously exist in ACN. Interestingly, the solvent-dependent anion recognition can make IM-PFB mimic the function of three kinds of decoders (1-to-2, 2-to-3 and 2-to-4), a 4-to-2 encoder and a 1 : 2 demultiplexer. It is really rare for one molecule to mimic so many logic operations.