[Ru(phen)2dppz]2+ luminescence reveals nanoscale variation of polarity in the cyclodextrin cavity

Abstract

Phosphorylation of β-cyclodextrin enhances binding with Ru(ii)polypyridyl complexes, and promotes selectivity based on chirality and ligand hydrophobicity. For [Ru(phen)2dppz]2+, inclusion of dppz results in a dramatic increase in luminescence with multiple lifetimes. The sensitive response of photophysics to the environment reveals nanoscale variation of polarity.