A dual-function fluorescent probe for Hg (II) and Cu (II) ions with two mutually independent sensing pathways and its logic gate behavior.

A dual-function fluorescent Probe 1 has been synthesized conveniently by coupling rhodamine hydrazone with O-vinyl protected hydroxyl benzaldehyde. Probe 1 was a highly selective and sensitive chemodosimeter for Hg2+ through specific hydrolysis reaction of vinyl ethers with significant fluorescence quenching in CH3CN-PBS buffer (3:7, v/v) solution. Meanwhile, Probe 1 showed a ratiometric fluorescent detection of Cu2+ with a remarkable large Stokes shift (150 nm) by the opening of the spirolactam ring in CH3CN-PBS buffer (3:7, v/v) solution. Hence, the two recognition mechanisms realized well by using a single fluorescent probe. Moreover, Probe 1 could be efficiently applied to the combinatorial logic circuit of NOR and INHIBIT gates through the procured spectral results, respectively.