Construction of a novel INHIBIT logic gate through a fine-tuned assembly of anthryl fluorophores via selective anion recognition and host–guest interactions

Abstract

A novel ligand (AAP) based on an anthryl fluorophore was rationally designed and synthesized. The presence of H₂PO₄⁻ (Pi) could induce the effective assembly of the ligand which leads to a strong excimer emission, while β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) disassembled the Pi–ligand complex through a host–guest interaction with terminal adamantane groups. This disassembly causes a considerable decrement in emissive intensity as well as a clear blue-shift in emissive wavelength. By manipulating the assembly and disassembly of anthryl fluorophores with Pi and β-CD, a novel INHIBIT logic gate was constructed using Pi and β-CD as the chemical inputs and fluorescence emission as the output.