Photochemical reactions in organized assemblies. 40. Amylose and carboxymethylamylose inclusion complexes with photoreactive molecules

Abstract

This paper focuses on a study of unimolecular and bimolecular photoreactions occurring with reactants which can be incorporated into the linear polysugars amylose and carboxymethylamylose. Hydrophobic and surfactant trans (E) stilbene derivatives form complexes in which the stilbene chromophore shows enhanced fluorescence and reduced trans → cis isomerization efficiencies. The reactivity of the excited surfactant–stilbene singlet towards the quencher iodide ion has been compared in water/dimethylsulfoxide in the presence and absence of amylose under conditions where complex formation is nearly complete. Some relatively hydrophobic viologen dications have also been found to form complexes with the water soluble carboxymethylamylose. Although the dications complex relatively weakly, the partially reduced monocations complex more strongly. This results in selective retardation of back electron transfer rates when the viologens are used as electron transfer quencher-oxidants for certain luminescent ruthenium polypyridine complexes.