Photoluminescence of 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methylbenzoyl)-1,5-diphenylpyrrole in aqueous and β-cyclodextrin environments: manifestation of open and closed conformers

Steady-state fluorometric studies have been performed on 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methylbenzoyl)-1,5-diphenylpyrrole (HMBDPP) in aqueous and aqueous β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) environments at ambient temperature. The fluorophore mostly shows a single emission in aqueous solution. Addition of β-CD to the aqueous solution of the fluorophore results in the development of another emission band at higher energy. The difference in the fluorometric behaviour is assigned to a remarkable change in the polarity of the microenvironment within the supramolecular structural environment compared to that of the bulk aqueous phase. Semi-empirical calculation (AM1-SCI) rules out the possibility of intramolecular proton transfer reaction in any of the S₀, S₁ and T₁ states of the fluorophore. It is proposed that HMBDPP exists mostly in the intermolecularly hydrogen-bonded form (open conformer) in aqueous solution while within β-CD environment, it is the intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded form (closed conformer) that predominates.