Fluorescent β-Cyclodextrins Modified by Isomeric Aminobenzamides: Synthesis, Conformational Analysis, and Fluorescent Behaviors

Three isomeric fluorescent β-cyclodextrins bearing 2-, 3-, and 4-(2-aminoethyl)amino-N-butylbenzamide, respectively (1-3) have been synthesized. The conformations of these fluorescent CDs have been investigated by 2D NMR and induced circular dichromism. It is confirmed that the ortho isomer 1 takes a butyl-included conformation, while the other two isomers 2 and 3 display a phenyl-included conformation, respectively. The three fluorescent CDs 1-3 exhibited totally different self- and guest-inclusion fluorescence behavior. In the presence of adamantane carboxylate sodium (ADA) or deoxycholate sodium (DCA), the fluorescence intensity of 1 showed an enhancement over 1-fold, while 2 exhibited dramatic fluorescence quenching. Interestingly, the fluorescent responses of 3 toward two guests respectively were highly distinguishable. The fluorescence intensity of 3 only showed a slight increase upon the addition of ADA, but the addition of DCA led to a large decrease in fluorescence intensity. The investigations have been further carried out by 2D NMR, induced circular dichromism, fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular modeling to explore the relationships between the conformations and the fluorescence characteristics of CDs 1-3 in the absence and presence of guest molecules. On the basis of the above investigations, the origins for the different fluorescence behaviors have been proposed.