A Modified Cyclodextrin with a Fully Encapsulated Dansyl Group: Self‐Inclusion in the Solid State and in Solution

A monofunctionalized β‐cyclodextrin containing a dansyl moiety, 6‐ deoxy‐ 6 ‐ N ‐ ( N′ ‐ (5‐ dimethylamino ‐ 1 ‐ naphthalenesulfonyl)diaminoethane) ‐ β‐cyclodextrin (CD‐en‐DNS, 2 ), was synthesized and its crystal structure determined. It was shown that the dansyl group is fully encapsulated within the cyclodextrin cavity, with the dimethylamino and sulfonyl groups emerging from opposite sides. The shape of the cavity is considerably flattened, since O(4)–O(4) distances parallel to the naphtalene ring were found to be longer than the others. The conformation of the diaminoethane linker was found to be determined by the inclusion of the dansyl group and by a hydrogen bond between the sulfonamide NH and one of the O(6)–H groups on the cyclodextrin rim. The self‐inclusion features of the aromatic moiety were found to be consistent with the solution data: 1 H NMR ROESY spectra suggested that the orientation of the dansyl moiety observed in the solid state was retained in aqueous solution; the circular dichroism spectrum was consistent with an axial complexation model. Fluorescence spectra showed that the inclusion of the dansyl group in the cyclodextrin cavity considerably increases the quantum yield: time‐resolved fluorescence experiments showed the presence of a long‐lifetime component (16.1 ns), which was attributed to the included fluorophore. The ability of 2 to act as a fluorescence sensor was evaluated by the addition of several guests of different shape: fluorescence intensity was lowered, especially upon addition of adamantanecarboxylic acid. All the data obtained were consistent with the model of the in‐out movement of the dansyl group from the self‐included conformation observed in the solid state to a position more exposed to the bulk solvent. Copper(II) was shown to enhance the difference in the fluorescence of 2 in the presence of guests by additional static quenching.