title: Cucurbit[8]uril-stabilized charge transfer complexes with diquat driven by pH: a SERS study.
abstract: In this work, we have studied the pH-dependence of the formation of DQCB[8] complexes by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The SERS spectra suggest that at acidic pH CB[8] can form a binary complex with the dication DQ(+2) while at higher pH ternary complexes with the radical cation dimer (DQ(+)˙)(2) and the radical cation-dication dimer (DQ(+)˙DQ(+2)) are formed. The pH-enhanced diquat (DQ) dimerization inside the cucurbit[8]uril cavity has not been reported until now. In addition, this study provides very valuable information regarding the use of CB[8] functionalized silver nanoparticles as SERS substrate for sensing applications.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Estructura de la Materia, CSIC, Serrano 121, 28006 Madrid, Spain. lorena@iem.cfmac.csic.es
authors.forename: María Lorena
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Roldán
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Cortes
authors.forename: José Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: García-Ramos
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domingo