Chameleonic Binding of the Dimethyldiazaperopyrenium Dication by Cucurbit[8]uril

Two are better than one: The diazaperopyrenium dication acts as both a viologen-like electron-poor and an electron-rich guest, resulting in the formation of a 1:2 complex with cucurbit[8]uril. This chameleonic binding facilitates deaggregation of the dications from aqueous solutions, leading to an increase in the fluorescence quantum yield of the diazaperopyrenium dication.