Inclusion induced water solubility and binding investigation of acenaphthene-1,2-dione with p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene

An increase in the water solubility of acenaphthene-1,2-dione (AD) with p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (p-SC4) is studied by means of simple method using UV chamber and analysed quantitatively using LC. The host guest interaction of AD with p-SC4 is studied using UV–visible absorption and emission spectral studies. The electrochemical properties of AD in the presence of p-SC4 is investigated using cyclic voltammetry method. The mode of binding is investigated using 1H NMR and ROESY techniques. Computational modelling shows that there are various kinds of non-covalent interactions favour the stability of the complexes. The presence of bond critical points between phenyl rings of p-SC4 and AD molecules are confirmed through density functional theory (DFT) and atoms in molecules approaches. Our study clearly reveals that there is strong charge transfer process between p-SC4 (SO3 group) and AD (aryl C-H…O) molecule during the inclusion process. In addition to this, dispersion interaction plays a vital role in the AD absorption on p-SC4 moiety which is confirmed through BE calculations and bond critical points between aromatic clouds.