Novel chromogenic macrocyclic molecular probes with logic gate function using anion/cation inputs

Two novel macrocyclic molecular probes linked to two nitrophenylurea and two nitrophenylthiourea groups, respectively, are reported. It was found that these systems can recognize different anions (OH−, F−, CN− with the nitrophenylurea probe, and OH−, F−, CN−, CH3COO− and H2PO4− with the nitrophenylthiourea probe) resulting in a red shift of electronic transition and correspondingly color-switching the probes. In addition, based on above sensing mechanism with the probes, IFNOT logic operations can be achieved using OH− and Cu2+ ion as inputs, and/or F− and Hg2+, respectively, making the probes, promising candidate for further applications in molecular logic devices.