The photochemistry of an expired Alpha Lipoic Acid-based drug namely MEGO-XL (ML) wasinvestigated. ML showed its application in selective sensing of Fe³⁺ and Pb²⁺ avoiding any interference. Thelower detection limit values for Fe³⁺ (1.51 × 10^-4 M) and Pb²⁺ (72.8 μM) suggested the sensitive nature ofML. The stability of the compound was examined under different environmental conditions. Further, theinteraction between ML and Fe³⁺, Pb²⁺ was studied with the help of Stern–Volmer plots, Benesi–Hildebrandrelation. Increased K_SV values with increased temperature suggested that the nature of quenching was purelydynamic in the case of Fe³⁺ and decreased K_SV values with increased temperature indicated that there mightbe an occurrence of static quenching in the case of Pb²⁺. Ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid (EDTA) was usedto differentiate the detection of Fe³⁺ from Pb²⁺.ML also showed application in sensing TiO₂ nanoparticlesand in OR logic gate operations. These experimental outcomes hinted that the chosen expired drug ML can bereused for chemosensing and logic gate applications.

The dual-sensing nature [Fe(III) and Pb(II)] of ML is described through Intensity Vs Wavelength graphs. TiO₂ sensing nature of ML is also described by KSV graph. The logic gate application of ML is pictorially represented with a truth table and bar graph.