Spectral,kinetic, and redox properties of basic fuchsin in homogeneous aqueous and sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar media

Effect of anionic surfactant on the optical absorption spectra and redox reaction of basic fuchsin, a cationic dye, has been studied. Increase in the absorbance of the dye band at 546 nm with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is assigned to the incorporation of the dye in the surfactant micelles with critical micellar concentration (CMC) of 7.3 × 10^?3 mol dm^?3. At low surfactant concentration (<5 × 10^?3 mol dm^?3) decrease in the absorbance of the dye band at 546 nm is attributed to the formation of a dye–surfactant complex (1:1). The environment, in terms of dielectric constant, experienced by basic fuchsin inside the surfactant micelles has been estimated. The association constant (K_A) for the formation of dye–SDS complex and the binding constant (K_B) for the micellization of dye are determined. Stopped‐flow studies, in the premicellar region, indicated simultaneous depletion of dye absorption and formation of new band at 490 nm with a distinct isosbestic point at 520 nm and the rate constant for this region increased with increasing SDS concentration. The reaction of hydrated electron with the dye and the decay of the semireduced dye are observed to be slowed down in the presence of SDS. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 629–636, 2003