Self-Assembly and Photochemistry of a Pyrene-Methyl Viologen Supramolecular Fiber System.

This paper reports the self-assembly of a donor-acceptor system into nanoscopic structures and the photo processes taking place within these structures. The donor employed is pyrene linked to two β-cyclodextrin molecules (CD-PY-CD), and adamantane-linked methyl viologen attached to the three arms of mesitylene (Ms-(MV-AD)) is the acceptor. CD-PY-CD and Ms-(MV-AD) when dissolved in water self-assembled into vesicles, which joined together to give long fibers.

Photoinduced Electron Transfer in a Self-Assembled Bis(β-cyclodextrin)-Linked Pyrene/Bis(adamantane)-Linked Methyl Viologen Donor-Acceptor System in Aqueous Solution.

Pyrene linked to two β-CD (CD = cyclodextrin; PY = pyrene) molecules (CD-PY-CD) and methylviologen (MV) linked to two adamantane (AD) groups (AD-MV-AD) self-assembled in water to give toroidal nanostructures. Photoprocesses taking place in the femtosecond and nanosecond time ranges within the assembly are reported. Fluorescence of the pyrene chromophore was quenched in the toroid, suggesting very efficient electron transfer.