Rhodamine-Appended Bipyridine: XOR and OR Logic Operations Integrated in an Example of Controlled Metal Migration**

A new bipyridyl derivative 1 bearing rhodamine B as visible fluorophore was designed, synthesized and characterized as a fluorescent and colorimetric sensor for metal ions. Interaction with Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(+), and Hg(2+) ions was followed by UV/Vis and emission spectroscopy. Upon addition of these metal ions, different colorimetric and fluorescent responses were observed. “Off-on-off” (Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and Hg(2+)) and “off-on” (Hg(+) and Cd(2+)) systems were obtained. Probe 1 was explored to mimic XOR and OR logic operations for the simultaneous detection of Hg(+)–Cu(2+) and Hg(+)–Zn(2+) pairs, respectively. DFT calculations were also performed to gain insight into the lowest-energy gas-phase conformation of free receptor 1 as well as the atomistic details of the coordination modes of the various metal ions.