The host-guest chemistry of Proflavine with cucurbit[6,7,8]urils

The binding of the polyaromatic guest, 3,6-diaminoacridine (Proflavine) to cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) where n = 6, 7 and 8 has been studied by fluorescence spectrophotometry and binding constants determined using a least squares fitting method. Titration of CB[8] into a solution of Proflavine results in a 95% decrease in fluorescence up to a CB[8] to Proflavine ratio of 2:1. From the induced fluorescence spectra a binding constant of 1.9 × 10⁷ M^{− 1} was determined. When Proflavine is titrated into a solution of CB[8] a similar binding constant is calculated (1.3 × 10⁷ M^{− 1}). Titration of CB[6] into a solution of Proflavine yields a decrease in fluorescence of 18–20%, but no binding is observed beyond what is seen within experimental error. Finally, titration of CB[7] into a solution of Proflavine results in an increase in fluorescence (32%) and a blue-shift of the emission wavelength from 509 nm to 485 nm. From the induced fluorescence spectra a binding constant of 1.65 × 10⁷ M^{− 1} was determined. From ¹H NMR it appears that the decrease in fluorescence for Proflavine with CB[6] and CB[8] is due to collisional quenching, whereas the increase in fluorescence with CB[7] may be due to rotational restriction.