Insertion of iodine in a functionalized inorganic layered solid.

The galleries of a Mg-Al layered double hydroxide have been functionalized by intercalation of (carboxymethyl)-beta-cyclodextrin cavities. The functionalized inorganic solid can adsorb iodine molecules from vapor as well as nonaqueous and aqueous solutions. The adsorbed iodine complexes with the grafted cyclodextrin cavities, disassociating heterolytically to form polyiodide species. Electronic and Raman spectra provide conclusive evidence for the existence of linear symmetric triodide, I(3)(-), and pentaiodide, I(5)(-), species within the cyclodextrin cavities confined in the layered double hydroxide.