A Versatile Synthetic Method for Photophysically and Chemically Stable [5]Rotaxane-Type Fluorescence Dyes of Various Colors by Using a Cooperative Capture Strategy

Rotaxane-type fluorescence dyes promise applications of optical and biological interest because their inner fluorescence cores are protected in inseparable host–guest systems. However, there are few relevant reports of such rotaxane-type fluorescence dyes due to the difficulty of their syntheses. Here, a versatile synthetic method is established for [5]rotaxane-type fluorescence dyes by employing a cooperative capture strategy. Using this method, [5]rotaxanes with emission colors ranging from blue to red are synthesized successfully. These [5]rotaxanes show higher emission quantum yields than the corresponding naked fluorescence dyes in water and even in the solid state. Furthermore, these rotaxanes show photostability and chemical stability, demonstrating the high applicability of [5]rotaxane-type fluorescence dyes for a variety of emitting materials.