Aggregation Induced Emission Enhancement in Ionic Self-Assembled Aggregates of Benzimidazolium Based Cyclophane and Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate

Cyclophane BIMCP-1 undergoes ionic self-assembly with surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SOBS) at a concentration far below its CMC value to form aggregates with spherical morphology. The rotational restriction of rings in these aggregates facilitates 32-fold enhancement in emission intensity (AIEE) to allow fluorescence based determination of SOBS with 4 mu M (1.4 ppm) as the lowest detection limit. Sodium salts of fatty acids and inorganic anions halides, CN-, HSO4-, SO42-, H2PO4-, SCN-, and NO3- do not interfere in the estimation of SDBS.