EFFECTS OF INDOLE AND TRYPTOPHAN ON FURAN OXIDATION BY SINGLET OXYGEN IN MICELLAR SOLUTIONS

Abstract— The 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran oxidation by singlet oxygen was investigated in aqueous dode-cyltrimethylammonium chloride micellar solutions using pyrene as photosensitizer. It was found that indole and tryptophan markedly enhanced the furan oxidation in micellar solutions. This enhancement effect strongly depended on the ethanol content in micellar solutions; enhancement effect below about 0.3 mol fraction of ethanol and inhibition effect above this mole fraction. In the former ethanol range, a quenching of pyrene fluorescence by indole or tryptophan and a difference spectrum of furan between micellar solutions in the presence and absence of indole or tryptophan appeared strongly, but they were weakened in the latter ethanol range. The interactions between indole or tryptophan and pyrene and/or furan might be responsible for the enhancement effect observed. Discussion was made in connection with the micelle structure.