Photophysics of cyclic multichromophoric systems based on beta-cyclodextrin and calix[4]arene with appended pyridin-2'-yl-1,2,3-triazole groups.

The photophysical properties of the new pyridin-2'-yl-1,2,3-triazole chromophore have been investigated. Spectroscopic experiments and molecular modelling have provided evidence for a photoinduced charge transfer occurring from the triazole group to the pyridine ring. Hepta- and tetrachromophoric systems have been synthesized by covalently linking seven or four chromophores of this kind, respectively, to a beta-cyclodextrin and a calix[4]arene. They exhibit different fluorescence spectra, decays and quantum yields. Special attention has been paid to the binding of cadmium and zinc ions and to the resulting photophysical effects which are various and very different for the grafted beta-cyclodextrin and calix[4]arene systems.