Fluorescence characteristics of polychlorinated biphenyl isomers in cyclodextrin media

The fluorescence characteristics of several polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) isomers in ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-cyclodextrin (CD) are discussed and contrasted. The steric hindrance of PCBs imposed by the positions of the chlorine atoms on the rings determines the overall stability of the resulting inclusion complexes with cyclodextrin which is reflected in the fluorescence intensities. Less substituted homologues include into the CD cavity equally well in both cyclodextrins, but very heavily substituted molecules show drastic differences between their fluorescence intensities in the ..cap alpha..- and ..beta..-cyclodextrin solutions. This behavior can be employed as a method for spectral fractionation of PCB isomers. Spectral separation is demonstrated here for two variably substituted molecules, and the photophysical limitations of this approach are discussed.