A BODIPY derivative for colorimetric fluorescence sensing of Hg 2+ , Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ ions and its application in logic gates.

A BODIPY-based colorimetric and fluorescent chemosensor 1 anchored with dipyridylamino (DPA) receptor has been designed, synthesized and characterized. It exhibited a simultaneous sensitive recognition for Cu2+ , Hg2+ and Pb2+ ions. With the addition of these three kinds of metal ions into 1 in CH3 CN, its initial absorption maximum displayed obvious blue shifts, and the color changes of the solution could be clearly observed by naked eyes. Besides, the fluorescence intensity was significantly enhanced accompanied with the appearance of new emission peaks at 587 nm for Pb2+ and Hg2+ ions and 545 nm for Cu2+ ions. These results were attributed to the π-deconjugation between N-pyridyl and the BODIPY group due to the binding of metal ions with the BODIPY and DPA groups. Based on the sensing behaviors of 1, three logic gates (OR, INHIBT and combinational logic gate) were constructed correspondingly.