A naphthalenecarboxamide based fluorescent sensor for selective detection of Fe3+ and CN‾: Live cell imaging and INHIBIT logic gate operation

•One-pot synthesis of a naphthalenecarboxamide based fluorescent probe, H4L, for Fe3+ and CN‾ detection.•The fluorescence of H4L is quenched by Fe3+ with no interference by other Mn+ ions.•Nucleophilic addition of CN‾ to the amide CO is supported by 1H NMR and DFT calculations.•H4L has also been applied to monitor and image both Fe3+ ions and CN‾ ions in HeLa cells.•The fluorogenic sensing has been utilized for the fabrication of an INHIBIT logic gate.