Fluorescence of 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate in solid macrocyclic environments

Fluorescence spectra, lifetimes and relative quantum yields of ammonium 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS) were measured in solid ANS, in mixtures of ANS with Al2O3, SiO2, BaSO4, talcum and in solid complexes with cyclodextrins, cyclphane CP 66 and cucurbituril. Emission lifetimes ranged from 4.2 in the SiO2-ANS mixture to 120.0 ns in the beta-cyclodextrin complex. The highest relative quantum yields were exhibited by the gamma-cyclodextrin and the cucurbituril complex. CP 66 complexed ANS in ethanol solution is protected from oxygen quenching to some extent. In non-polar environments, i.e. in cyclohexane as a solvent as well as in solid paraffin, an unexpectedly short fluorescence lifetime was measured. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.