Azo-Dye Kotaxanes

摘要

Azo dyes are the largest and most commercially important class of synthetic-colorants. Their interaction with cyclodex-trins (CDs) has been investigated as a method of controlling their stability, solubility, and aggregation. Rotaxane formation offersa way of converting these labile inclusion complexes into robust encapsulated chromophores, with the dye permanently protected inside the cavity of the CD. There seem to be no previous reports of rotaxanes of this type. We have synthesized a range of water-soluble azo-dye rotaxanes using the hydrophobic effect to direct rotaxane formation (Scheme 1).