A water-responsive calix[4]resorcinarene system: self-assembly and fluorescence modulation
María Virginia Sosa1, Kashif Hussain2, Eduardo D Prieto1,3
1Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA, UNLP, CCT La Plata-CONICET), Diag. 113 y 64, Sucursal 4, C.C. 16, (B1906ZAA), La Plata, Argentina. fgarciae@quimica.unlp.edu.ar.
Abstract:
This study explores how water content modulates the self-assembly and fluorescence behavior of two novel calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycles. These macrocycles transition from large, flattened structures in pure THF to large giant vesicles (500-5000 nm) coexisting with small micelles (3.4-3.5 nm) as the water percentage in THF/water mixtures increases up to 53%. At higher water percentages, the assemblies become smaller, forming unimodal micelles with diameters of approximately 140-160 nm. Fluorescence quenching is observed upon water addition, attributed to nonradiative deactivation. These findings highlight water as a key regulator of the assembly and fluorescence of these calix[4]resorcinarene macrocycles, paving the way for further development of water-responsive calixarene systems.
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