Spectral properties and supramolecular inclusion complex formation between 2-styrylbenzothiazolium dye and cyclodextrins

The effect of native and randomly methylated β-CDs on the absorption and steady-state fluorescence spectra of 2-(4-dimethylaminostyryl)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-benzothiazolium chloride (DHB) in aqueous buffer solutions with various pH values was studied. The inclusion with both CDs at pH 7.2 barely changed the UV spectra, whereas significant variations were produced in the emission spectra in all buffer solutions. In all cases the CDs increase guest fluorescence. The 1:1 stoichiometry of the inclusion complexes of the dye with both CDs was established according to the modified Benesi-Hildebrand method. Binding constant values were calculated using the iterative nonlinear least-squares regression approach. The pH of the solution and the type of the CD affected complex stability. The results indicate that native β-CD possesses better complexing ability towards DHB than randomly substituted β-CD and that the most stable inclusion complexes are formed in basic medium because of the structural changes in the guest molecule. In basic medium an attempt is made to interpret the proposed mechanism in terms of molecular rearrangement which take place as the dye penetrates the CD cavity.