Piperazine-based new sensor: selective ratiometric sensing of Fe³⁺, logic gate construction and cell imaging

<div><p>Newly designed and synthesised chemosensor <b>1</b> selectively recognises Fe³⁺ ions in CHCl₃–MeOH (1:1, v/v) by showing ratiometric change in emission and green colouration of the solution under the exposure of UV light. The ensemble <b>1</b>·Fe³⁺ selectively detects F⁻ ions over other halides and the phenomenon is useful to construct combinatorial logic gate. Furthermore, the probe <b>1</b> can be used for <i>in vitro</i> detection of Fe³⁺ in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells.</p>