Inclusion complexes between camphorquinone (CQ) and cyclodextrins (CDs) in deoxygenated aqueous solutions are shown to exhibit relatively strong room temperature phosphorescence (RTP). Among the various CDs tested, ␣-CD showed the strongest RTP signals. Interestingly, these signals differed significantly for the two enantiomers of CQ; the phosphorescence lifetime of (+)-CQ was about four times longer than that of (−)-CQ, being 352 ± 16 and 89 ± 6 s, respectively. This enantiomeric selectivity is attributed to a difference in dissociation rates (competing with the radiative emission process) for the diastereoisomeric inclusion complexes dealt with, which have a 2:1 stoichiometry (␣-CD:CQ:␣-CD). Time-resolved RTP detection using different delay times enables the determination of the two enantiomers in a mixture without involving a separation technique. The minimum detectable fraction of (+)-CQ in a 2 mM sample was 13%.
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