Selective manipulation of ICT and PeT processes in styryl-Bodipy derivatives : applications in molecular logic and fluoerescence sensing of metal ions

Abstract

Recent developments in the Bodipy chemistry, provided new opportunities for modification of this chromophore which, in turn, using appropriate metal-ligand pairs, allowed the control and manipulation of PeT and ICT mechanisms. Exploiting these mechanisms, we demonstrated that photophysical properties of Bodipy can be shaped as desired using metal cation modulators to obtain absorbance signals in accordance with a digital half-adder circuit. In addition, another Bodipy derivative with a simple and rational design, shown to have emission signals equivalent to AND operation in Boolean logic. A molecular threeinput AND gate was also synthesized taking the advantage of differential binding affinities of metal cations for different ligands. Our work proves that, with careful design, photophysical properties of a single chromophore can be modified as desired. Hence molecular logic gates, and even molecules performing more complex logic operations can be obtained using metal cations as non-annihilating logic inputs.