Probing Solvation Effects in Binary Solvent Mixtures with the Use of Solvatochromic Dyes

In this work three molecules exhibiting dual sensing solvatochromic behaviors are examined in the context of solvation in binary solvent mixtures (BSMs). The compounds studied involve two functional groups with high responsiveness to solvent polarity namely pentacyanoferrate(II) (PC) and azo groups. Two of these compounds are [2]rotaxanes involving alpha- or beta- cyclodextrin (CyD) and the third is their CyD-free precursor. The dual solvatochromic behavior of these compounds is investigated in water/ethlylene glycol (EG) mixtures and their dual solvatochromic responses are assessed in terms of the intensity of solvatochromism and the extent of preferential solvation. To achieve this the linear solvation model by Kamlet, Abboud and Taft [J. Organomet. Chem. 1983, 48, 2877–2887] and the two-phase model of solvation by Bagchi and coworkers [J. Phys. Chem. 1991, 95, 3311–3314] are employed. The influence of the presence or lack of CyD (alpha- or beta-) on these dual solvatochromic sensors is analyzed.