Stabilization of dyes against hydrolytic decomposition by the formation of inclusion compounds

The decomposition reactions of the dyes phenol blue and murexide were measured spectroscopically in acidic solution at different temperatures. From these reaction rates and their temperature dependence in the absence and presence of various hosts, the stability constants and the reaction enthalpies of the dye complexes with noncyclic dextrins, cyclodextrins and cucurbituril were calculated.-Cyclodextrin enhances the stability of phenol blue in acidic solution. This effect is even more pronounced with cucurbituril. Due to the molecular structure of murexide this dye cannot form inclusion complexes with hosts containing hydrophobic cavities.