Resorcinarene-Encapsulated Gold Nanorods: Solvatochromatism and Magnetic Nanoshell Formation

Gold nanorods (GNRs) were encapsulated and dispersed into organic solvents by tetrabenzylthiol resorcinarene (TBTR) and by a poly(dithiocarbamate) derived from tetra- N-methyl(aminomethyl)resorcinarene (TMAR-DTC), formed by the in situ condensation of TMAR with carbon disulfide. The latter proved to be highly effective at enabling the redispersion of GNRs in various organic solvents. GNRs encapsulated in TMAR-DTC exhibited a strong solvatochromic response, with a refractive index sensitivity of over 300 nm/RIU. The resorcinarene-encapsulated GNRs could withstand high temperatures for a short period of time, and could be used to nucleate the growth of magnetic nanoshells.