two decades that studied the nano-container-photoactive guest systems whose significance extends well beyond the domain of supramolecular photochemistry. The
crucial nature of such works in gaining new insight into electronic, bonding, and
dynamics nature of chemical interactions or their role in realizing new applications is
discussed herein. The contents are organized on the basis of named photochemical
reactions or photophysical activity affected through nano-container mediation
contrasted with that of the free chromophore or luminophore. Three cavitands
(families) cyclodextrins, cucurbiturils, and octa acids are primarily focused due to
their literature predominance leading to a comprehensive understanding of their
effects, with relatively less frequent instances of calixarenes and crown-ethers.
Differences in physicochemical influences affected by the various cavitand families
as well as that within the oligomers of a given family will be discussed wherever
possible, and diversity in such effects is analyzed on the basis of “supramolecular
cause-and-effect” relationship.
Keywords Cavitands · Cucurbiturils · Cyclodextrins · Excited state · Fluorescence ·
Molecular orbitals · Octa acid · Phosphorescence · Photochemistry · Photophysics ·
Singlet · Supramolecular chemistry · Triplet
Abbreviations
α-CD
α-cyclodextrin
β-CD
β-cyclodextrin
γ-CD
γ-cyclodextrin
λ fl
Fluorescence wavelength
τ F
Fluorescence lifetime
Φ
Quantum yield
Φ F
Fluorescence quantum yield
ACN
Acenaphthylene
ADT
Adamantathione
ANT
Anthracene
aPS
Activatable photosensitizers
BP
Biphenyl bipyridinium guest
CA
Cinnamic acid
CB
Cucurbituril
CB7
Cucurbit[7]uril
CB8
Cucurbit[8]uril
CD
Cyclodextrin
CE
Crystal engineering
CHT
Camphorthione
Coum-n
Coumarins
D-A
Donor-acceptor
DBA
Dibenzal acetone
DMABN N,N-Dimethylaminobenzonitrile
322
M. Pattabiraman and A. Natarajan