INTERFACIAL ELECTRON TRANSFER INVOLVING RADICAL IONS OF CAROTENE AND DIPHENYLHEXATRIENE IN MICELLES AND VESICLES

Abstract— The radical cations and anions of diphenylhexatriene have been produced and characterized in homogenous and micellar solutions by pulse radiolysis and laser flash photolysis techniques. Both types of radical ions were formed in cyclohexane on pulse radiolysis. The radical cation was formed in dichloroethane on pulse radiolysis, and by two photon photoionization in ethanol, dichloroethane, and various micelles. Both radical ions have intense ( 10⁵ M ^-1 cm^-1) absorption peaks at600–650nm. The cation peak occurs at slightly shorter wavelengths than that of the anion.
In micelles and vesicles the radical anion of carotene was formed by electron transfer from e_a– on pulse radiolysis. The radical cation was formed on pulse radiolysis of micellar solutions containing Br^-₂ as counterion, presumably by electron transfer to Br₂^-. The spectra agree with those of the radical cation and anion of carotene that have previously been obtained in homogenous solutions (Dawe and Land, 1975).
Electron transfer in micelles and vesicles from the radical anion of biphenyl to carotene and diphenylhexatriene, and from the radical anions of these to inorganic acceptors has been studied.