[Comparative study of room-temperature phosphorescence of 1-bromonaphthalene induced by synergetic effect of nonionic...

Room-temperature phosphorescence of 1-BrN induced by a combination of OPE-10 and Triton X-100 with beta-CD was comparatively studied. In terms of molecular size and dimensions of beta-CD, the octyl group and phenyl group of OPE-10 and Triton X-100 were incorporated into the cavity of beta-CD and the complexes with the stoichiometry of 1:1 were formed. The removal of water molecules inside the cavity results in a greater apolar interior. By enhanced hydrophobic interaction, the cavity occupied by OPE-10 and Triton X-100 is able to further capture another 1-BrN and form close packing 1:1:1 ternary inclusion complexes with apparent stability constant of 1.09 x 10(5) and 4.47 x 10(5) L2 x mol(-2), respectively. 1-BrN shows bright phosphorescence at room temperature due to the greater rigidity in the limited space and the favorable microenvironment shielding from external quenchers and quenching effect on the fluorescence of the phenyl group of OPE-10 and Triton X-100 within the same cavity. In the case of Triton X-100, the larger tert-octyl group better shields off external quenchers such as dissolved oxygen and iodide ion. Energy transfer from the excited phenyl group of Triton X-100 to adjacent 1-BrN acceptor was observed.