Viologen-Mediated Photooxidation of Thiacarbocyanine Dyes and Their Supramolecular Complexes with Cucurbit[8]uril

The photooxidation of 3,3′-diethyl-9-methylthiacarbocyanine and 3,3′-diethylthiacarbocyanine by viologens (methyl viologen, p-chlorophenyl viologen, p-cyanophenyl viologen) in acetonitrile and their dimeric complexes with cucurbit[8]uril by monomeric complexes of viologens with cucurbit[8]uril in water has been studied. The photooxidation products of dye monomers in acetonitrile are radical dications of the dyes and radical cations of viologens. The photooxidation of dimeric complexes produces radical trications of the dimeric complexes and radical cations of the monomeric complexes of viologens. The photooxidation reaction of the dyes occurs most efficiently in acetonitrile.