gamma-Cyclodextrin dimer linked with ethylenediamine has been synthesized a
nd then modified with dansyl moiety in the presence of N,N'-dicyclohexylcar
bodiimide. The sensing ability and binding property of the titled compound
are investigated for bile acids. The fluorescence intensity of the cyclodex
trin dimer is decreased when a host-guest complex was formed. The value Del
ta I/I-0, where I and I-0 are fluorescence intensities in the presence and
absence of a guest and Delta I is I-0-I, was used as a parameter of sensiti
vity. This host exhibits highly sensitive and selective molecular recogniti
on ability for ursodeoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid and chenodeoxycholic
acid. The behaviors of appended moieties of the host when a host-guest comp
lexation is occurring were studied by induced circular dichroism (ICD) and
fluorescence spectra. The ICD spectra patterns of the titled dimer were opp
osite to those of bis dansyl-modified gamma-CyD reported previously. The gu
est-induced variations in the fluorescence and ICD intensity suggest that t
he appended moieties work as a hydrophobic cap.