Photophysical properties of aqueous solutions of a styryl dye in the presence of cucurbit[n]uril (n = 5, 6, 8)

Photophysical properties of aqueous solutions of the styryl dye 4-[(E)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-ethylpyridinium] perchlorate (1) in the presence of cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n]; n = 5, 6, 8) have been studied by fluorescent spectroscopy methods. The fluorescence intensity of a 10–6 mol L–1 solution of 1 increases by a factor of 12.6 upon the formation of 1 : 1 inclusion complexes with CB[6] or 1.3 in complexes with CB[8]. Upon the formation of inclusion complexes, the average lifetime of the electronically excited state of 1 increases to about 1 ns for both CB[6] and CB[8]. On the basis of fluorescence anisotropy measurements, the rotational relaxation times were estimated to be 408, 314, and 183 ps for the complexes with CB[6], CB[8], and for unbound 1, respectively. Using the fluorescence titration method developed for the case of poorly soluble cavitands, the binding constant of 1 with CB[6] was determined to be 1.1 × 105 L mol–1. The addition of CB[5] does not lead to changes in the photophysical properties of a solution of 1, indicating the absence of complexes between CB[5] and 1. It has been found on the basis of the experimental data that the fluorescence rate constant of 1 decreases about twice in the complex with CB[8], but doubles in the complex with CB[6].