2-Hydroxyacetophenone and ethylenediamine condensed Schiff base: Fluorescent sensor for Al3+ and PO43−, biological cell imaging and INHIBIT logic gate

Abstract

The condensation product of 2-hydroxyacetophenone and ethylene diamine (L) acts as fluorescent sensor for Al3+ by “off-on” mode over the metal ions – Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Hg2+ and Ag+. The interaction of L with Al3+ results bright blue fluorescence under UV radiation and the fluorescence intensity enhances by ca. 40 times. The 1:1 interaction between L and Al3+ has been established from spectroscopic data as well as from DFT calculations. Snapping of photo induced electron transfer (PET) prevailed in L, due to interaction with Al3+, is responsible for the fluorescence intensity enhancement. The detection limit and binding constant of L towards Al3+ is 10−5M and 105.14M−1 respectively. L is applicable for determination of Al3+ in bovine serum albumin and for live cell imaging. The Al3+:L complex acts as PO43− ion sensor by fluorescent “on-off” mode over the anions – F−, Br−, I−, NO3−, HF2−, SCN−, HPO42−, H2PO4−, CH3COO− and HCO32−. L is found to exhibit INHIBIT logic gate behaviour with PO43− and Al3+ as inputs.