Enhanced imine synthesis in water: from surfactant-mediated catalysis to host-guest mechanismsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed experimental procedures and product characterisation. See DOI: 10.1039/c3cc46461j

An environment-responsive and fluorogenic reaction is reported and used as a model system to demonstrate experimentally three mechanisms of enhanced imine synthesis in water using either surfactants (below and above their CMC) or double-stranded DNA (acting as a reaction host). A fluorogenic reaction is used to demonstrate three mechanisms of enhanced imine synthesis in water using either surfactants or B-DNA.