Synthesis, spectral and solution studies on 2-ethyl imidazolate-bridged (2-EtIm) homo-binuclear copper(II)-copper(II) and hetero-binuclear copper(II)-zinc(II) homologue are described. Magnetic moment values of homo-binuclear complexes indicate that the imidazolate group can mediate antiferromagnetic interactions. Optical spectra of hetero-binuclear complex at varying pH values suggest that the imidazolate-bridged complex is stable over the pH-range 7.15–10.0.

Anthraquinone-based chemosensor L with pyridine units as additional functional groups has been found to show pH-dependent multiple coordinationmodes towards differentmetal ions (Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺). Based on these different absorption changes, this differential colorimetric chemosensor L has found promising applications as a multiple-mode molecular logic system, i.e., OR, three - input NOR, three - input INHIBIT, TRANSFER and 1:2 DEMUX.