Host‐Guest Assemblies of Cyanostilbenes and Cucurbit[8]uril: Luminescence Modulation, Photoreactivity Control and Energy Transfer Studies

Abstract A series of di‐cationic cyanostilbene derivatives possessing peripheral alkyl chains of variable lengths underwent host‐guest complexation with CB[8] in aqueous media to produce higher order nano‐ and micro‐structures of various morphologies and exhibited multi‐color luminescence. Their complexation behavior was modulated by varying the ionic strength of the medium. The photoreactivity of the cyanostilbene chromophores in the CB[8] assemblies was found to be dependent on the length of the alkyl segment. Furthermore, the CB[8] assemblies acted as artificial light harvesting systems exhibiting multicolor luminescence ranging from green to pinkish red through energy transfer to different acceptor dyes.