Facile Label-Free Three-Input Molecular Keypad Lock

Featured with molecule-level data encryption, molecular keypad locks show attractive merits in information security. Most of the previous multiple-input locks use fluorescence as output but are impeded by inefficient/labile prequenching or highly synthetic complexity/difficulty of the fluorophore-containing processor molecules. We herein propose a facile three-input molecular keypad lock, which is simple in synthesis and label free but capable of in situ generation of a fluorescent moiety (dityrosine) for background-free fluorescence readout. A nonfluorescent ("Locked") tyrosine derivate _zY_pc was easily synthesized as the processor. The correct "password" (i.e., UV → ALP → TYR, ABC) stepwise converted _zY_pc to a dityrosine-containing product, exhibiting a bright blue fluorescence output ("Open"). In contrast, wrongly permutated inputs failed to open this lock. This device shows potential to be extended as a more advanced keypad lock with better security.