Fluorescein modified β-cyclodextrin as a charge-changeable receptor

Novel β-cyclodextrin-eosin conjugates

Eosin B (EoB) and eosin Y (EoY), two xanthene dye derivatives with photosensitizing ability were prepared in high purity through an improved synthetic route. The dyes were grafted to a 6-monoamino-β-cyclodextrin scaffold under mild reaction conditions through a stable amide linkage using the coupling agent 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride. The molecular conjugates, well soluble in aqueous medium, were extensively characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Preliminary spectroscopic investigations showed that the β-cyclodextrin–EoY conjugate retains both the fluorescence properties and the capability to photogenerate singlet oxygen of the unbound chromophore. In contrast, the corresponding β-cyclodextrin–EoB conjugate did not show either relevant emission or photosensitizing activity probably due to aggregation in aqueous medium, which precludes any response to light excitation.

New synthetic strategies for xanthene-dye-appended cyclodextrins

Xanthene dyes can be appended to cyclodextrins via an ester or amide bridge in order to switch the fluorescence on or off. This is made possible through the formation of nonfluorescent lactones or lactams as the fluorophore can reversibly cyclize. In this context we report a green approach for the synthesis of switchable xanthene-dye-appended cyclodextrins based on the coupling agent 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride (DMT-MM). By using 6-monoamino-β-cyclodextrin and commercially available inexpensive dyes, we prepared rhodamine- and fluorescein-appended cyclodextrins. The compounds were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy and MS spectrometry, their UV-vis spectra were recorded at various pH, and their purity was determined by capillary electrophoresis. Two potential models for the supramolecular assembly of the xanthene-dye-appended cyclodextrins were developed based on the set of data collected by the extensive NMR characterization.

The influence of beta-cyclodextrin on acid-base and tautomeric equilibrium of fluorescein dyes in aqueous solution

The protolytic equilibrium of fluorescein in aqueous solutions was studied in the presence of cycloheptaamylose (beta-cyclodextrin, or beta-CD). The constants of stepwise ionization of the dye (H(3)R(+)left arrow over right arrowH(2)Rleft arrow over right arrow HR(-)left arrow over right arrowR(2-)), K(a0), K(a1), and K(a2) were determined using vis-spectroscopy at ionic strength 0.05 M (NaCl+buffer) and 25 degrees C. In the presence of 0.0086 M beta-CD, the indices of ionization constants are as follows: pK(a0)=1.21+/-0.12, pK(a1)=5.08+/-0.03, pK(a2)=6.35+/-0.02. The changes in these pK(a)s, as compared with the values determined without cyclodextrin, are unequal. Namely, the pK(a0) value decreases by 1.0, while the pK(a1) value increases by 0.7. Thus, the introduction of beta-CD allows to govern the ratios K(a0)/K(a1) and K(a1)/K(a2), which are equal to, respectively, 141 and 151 in water, and 7.4 x 10(3) and 18.6 with cyclodextrin added. Rationalization of the observed phenomenon is possible taking into account the detailed scheme of protolytic equilibrium. Conclusions concerning tautomerism of dye molecules were deduced from absorption spectra; the fractions of tautomers, tautomerization constants, and microscopic ionization constants were evaluated. These data allow concluding that the main reason for the aforementioned pK(a) alterations is the binding of H(2)R by the cyclodextrin cavity accompanied by turning these neutral species into the colorless lactone. The host-guest interaction of neutral species of fluorescein isothiocyanate, 2,7-dichlorofluorescein, and 3',4',5',6'-tetrachlorofluorescein also results in the cyclodextrin-assisted shift of tautomeric equilibrium. Such nature of interactions is proved by the addition of competing agents, camphor-4-carboxylic acid and sodium n-nonylsulfonate, which results in the removing of neutral dye species from the cycloheptaamylose cavity.