Specific behavior of crowned crystal violet in cation complexation and photochromism

Abstract Absorption-spectral changes of a Crystal Violet derivative carrying a tris(monoaza-15-crown-5) structure in the presence of alkali metal ions were investigated under dark and UV-irradiated conditions. The absorption, 1 H NMR, and mass spectra indicate a dramatic conformational change of triscrowned Crystal Violet on its cesium–ion complexation under dark condition. In-situ photoirradiation measurement shows that the complexation decelerates the photochemical reaction of the triscrowned Crystal Violet.