Host/guest complex of β-cyclodextrin/5-thia pentacene-14-one for photoinitiated polymerization of acrylamide in water

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used to complex the photoinitiator, 5-thia pentacene-14-one (TX-A), yielding a water-soluble host/guest complex. IR, UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to characterize complexed β-CD/TX-A. Photoinitiated polymerization of acrylamide in water was achieved with β-CD/TX-A in the presence of N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). Excellent polymerization yields were observed in air saturated solutions when MDEA was added.