Determining the chromophore in the amylopectin–iodine complex by theoretical and experimental studies

A partial hydrolysis of amylose followed by the addition of iodine provides a spectrum almost identical to that of the amylopectin–iodine (API) complex suggesting the involvement of smaller “amylose‐like” units in the API complex. Our theoretical studies on different polyiodine and polyiodide species suggest that a nearly linear I4 unit stabilized within the cavity of a small “amylose‐like” helix is responsible for the characteristic API spectrum. Since there are 2.75 anhydroglucose residues (AGU) for every iodine atom in the amylose–iodine (AI) complex and a structural similarity exists between the API and the AI (amylose–iodine) complexes, we identify (C6H10O5)11I4 to be the chromophore in the API complex.