Photochemistry in confinement: SpectroscopicCharacterization of a Host-Guest complex

Supramolecular cavities can be used to modify the reactivity and interaction of a guest incorporated inside and this field has become of vast interest due to its widespread applications in modifying traditional chemical reactions. The focus of several recent in?vestigations concerns reactivity of molecules incorporated inside a molecular container as ”Host-Guest” complexes, using hosts such as zeolites, cyclodextrins, and various cryptands or crown ethers.In this project, 9-Vinyl-Anthracene (9-VA) is incorporated into a cationic water-soluble Pd6L4 octahedral nanocage to give rise to a charge transfer complex which absorbs in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectra. This work describes our efforts to characterize the host-guest complex using NMR, absorption and emission studies. The characterization helps to prove the insertion of guest into the host and creation of charge transfer states. In future such host-guest complexes will be used to carry out photochemistry in confinement.