Host–guest assembly of squaraine dye in cucurbit[8]uril: its implication in fluorescent probe for mercury ions

Abstract

The binding interactions between SQ2 squaraine dye and cucurbit[8]uril (CB8) effectively removes the aggregation of SQ2 in aqueous solution by forming a 1 : 1 inclusion complex. The resulting SQ2.CB8 complex exhibits highly selective fluorescence quenching by Hg(2+) ions, as a result of the synergetic binding between CB8, SQ2 and metal cation.