Highly Efficient Cucurbit[8]uril-Templated Intramolecular Photocycloaddition of 2-Naphthalene-Labeled Poly(ethylene glycol) in Aqueous Solution

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Abstract
The photodimerization of water-insoluble 2-naphthalene-labeled poly(ethyl glycol) (N - P n -N) in cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) aqueous solution was investigated. UV−vis, fluorescence, and 1H NMR analysis reveal that CB[8] can encapsulate N - P n -N to make a stable 1:1 inclusion complex N - P n -N@CB[8] in aqueous solution. Irradiation of N - P n -N in the CB[8] aqueous solution results in intramolecular photocycloaddition with remarkable selectivity and efficiency, whereas no photodimer could be detected in host-free solution.