BINDING OF IONIC SURFACTANTS ON OPPOSITELY CHARGED POLYELECTROLYTES OBSERVED BY FLUORESCENCE METHODS

Our recent studies concerning the binding of ionic surfactants on oppositely charged polyelectrolytes observedwith fluorescence techniques are reviewed. The cationic surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB),dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), and nonionic surfactant octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C_(12)E_8) wereallowed to bind on anionic poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS) and its pyrene and/or naphthalenelabeled copolymers. The relative excimer emission intensity I_E/I_M of a cationic probe l-pyrenemethylamine hydrochloride(PyMeA·HCl) and the non-radiative energy transfer (NRET) I_(Py)/I_(Np) of naphthalene to pyrene for labeled polyelectrolyteswere chosen to monitor the binding process and the conformation change of surfactant-bound polyelectrolytes. The 1:1aggregation of polyelectrolyte-CTAB with respect to the charge was found as long as the CTAB concentration was slightlyhigher than its critical aggregation concentration (CAC). The intermolecular NRET indicated that the CTAB-boundpolyelectrolytes aggregated together through the hydrophobic interaction between the CTAB tails. However, neither 1:1polyelectrolyte-DTAC aggregation nor intermolecular aggregation of DTAC-bound polyelectrolyte was observed owing to itsweaker hydrophobicity of 12 carbon atoms in the tail, which is shorter than that of CTAB. As known from the fluorescenceresults, nonionic surfactant C_(12)E_8 did not bind on the anionic polyelectrolytes, but the presence of PAMPS promoted themicelle formation for C_(12)E_8 at the CAC slightly below its critical micelle concentration (CMC). The solid complex of dansyllabeled AMPS copolymer-surfactant exhibited a decrease in local polarity with increasing charge density of thepolyelectrolyte or with alkane tail length of the surfactant. SAXS suggested a lamella structure for the AMPS copolymer-surfactant solid complexes with a long period of 3.87 nm for CTAB and 3.04 nm for DTAC, respectively.     

Binding on strong polyelectrolytes of mixed ionic and nonionic surfactants below their critical micelle concentration observed by fluorescence

The binding of mixed surfactants of cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and nonionic octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C ₁₂E ₈) on anionic polyelectrolyte poly[2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (PAMPS)] and fluorophore-labeled copolymers containing about 40 mol% of AMPS was investigated at different mole fractions, Y , of CTAB in the surfactant mixture. The excimer emission of the cationic probe 1-pyrenemethylamine hydrochloride (PyMeA·HCl), nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) between pyrene and naphthalene labels and I ₁/ I ₃ of the pyrene label were determined by varying the total surfactant concentration, c _Surf. The I _E/ I _M value of PyMeA·HCl firstly increases and then decreases to 0 with c _Surf, showing a maximum on every curve. The critical aggregation concentration of the mixed surfactants determined from the I _E/ I _M maximum decreased from 5×10 ^-5 to 1×10 ^-5 mol/l as Y increased from 0.1 to 0.50, and then leveled off as Y increased up to unity. And at least 5×10 ^-6 mol/l CTAB was required for the mixed surfactants to bind on the PAMPS cooperatively. Equimolar binding of CTAB on AMPS was formed at I _E/ I _M=0 when Y =0.25, while at Y =0.1 some CTAB molecules in the mixed micelle were directed to the water phase without binding with AMPS. Both the intramolecular and the intermolecular NRET increased and then decreased with c _Surf, having a maximum on each curve corresponding to the equimolar binding of CTAB and AMPS so long as Y >0, indicating the coiling of the chain and interchain aggregation upon bound surfactants. The I _Py/ I _Np value at the maximum decreased with decreasing Y because more nonionic surfactant C ₁₂E ₈ participated into the polyelectrolyte-mixed surfactant complexes together with bound CTAB.     

Photophysical and rheological properties of naphthalene-labeled cationic poly(dimethyl sulfate quaternized acrylamide/N,N-dimethylaminopropylmaleimide copolymer)

The synthesis, rheological, and fluorescence properties of a cationic water-soluble copolymer, naphthalene-labeled cationic poly(dimethyl sulfate quaternized acrylamide/N,N-dimethylaminopropylmaleimide copolymer), poly(DSQADMAPM)/NA, are reported. When fluorescent hydrophobes (naphthyl group) are incorporated into the cationic copolymer, the photophysical response may effectively probe solution behavior on the microscopic level. The salt and pH responsiveness inherent to the cationic copolymer systems is a function of ionic group type. Experimental results indicate that I_E/I_M increases steadily with increases in polymer concentration and I_E/I_M values for a given polymer concentration are higher in salt. At low pH values, I_E/I_M is high and excimer emission increases as the quaternary amino groups (R₄N⁺) are screened out. Dynamic light scattering (QELS) measurements indicate that diffusion coefficients of the cationic copolymer increase and the hydrodynamic diameters decrease with increasing salt concentration. Viscosity studies reveal that the polymer coil shrinks as salt is added. In fluorescence quenching study, the reduction in the quenching efficiency of thallium (Tl⁺) with salt addition can arise from enhanced compartmentalization of naphthalene labels as added electrolyte enhances intrapolymer micellization. The intrapolymer micelle is easily formed, indicating that the thallium ion has difficulty in reacting with bound naphthalenes located in the shrunk polymer coil. The cationic copolymer is depicted as an expanded polymer coil in deionized water because of intra- and interchain repulsions. Consequently, salt addition breaks down the repulsions and enhances intrapolymer micellization. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 11–19, 1998     

Aggregation behaviour of hydrophobically modified poly(allylammonium) chloride

 The behaviour of hydrophobically modified poly(allylammonium) chloride having octyl, decyl, dodecyl and hexadecyl side chains has been studied in aqueous solution using fluorescence emission techniques. Micropolarity studies using the I ₁/I ₃ ratio of the vibronic bands of pyrene show that the formation of hydrophobic microdomains depends on both the length of the side chain and the polymer concentration. The I ₁/I ₃ ratio of the polymers with low hydrophobe content (less than 5% mol) changes substantially when reaching a certain concentration. These changes are assigned to aggregation originating from interchain interactions. This behaviour is also confirmed by the behaviour of the monomer/excimer emission intensities of pyrenedodecanoic acid used as a probe. For polymers having dodecyl side chains and hydrophobe contents higher than 10%, aggregates are formed independently of the polymer concentration. Anisotropy measurements show that microdomains resulting from the inter- and/or intramolecular interactions are similar to those observed for cationic surfactants. Viscosity measurements show that the coil dimensions are substantially decreased for the polymers having high hydrophobe contents, indicating intramolecular associations. Received: 10 November 1999/Accepted: 7 April 2000     

Synthesis, Characterization and Solution Properties of Hydrophobically Modified Polyelectrolyte Poly(AA-co-TMSPMA)

The hydrophobically modified polyelectrolyte was synthesized using precipitation polymerization of acrylic acid and 3-[tris(trimethylsilyloxy)silyl]propyl methacrylate (TMSPMA) in various molar ratios in supercritical carbon dioxide. FT-IR, ¹H NMR, capillary viscometry, rotational viscometer, transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize this copolymer. The viscosity of the copolymers showed a strong dependence on pH with a maximum at pH=5.5. Associating morphologies of the copolymer were observed by TEM. Associating morphologies of poly(AA-co-TMSPMA) solution changed from a global structure to a shell-core structure with increasing hydrophobic levels. A solution of sample PAT4 with a shell-core structure had the largest viscosity value. In addition, the critical micelle concentration of copolymer solution, cmc, was determined from the relative viscosity. The critical micelle concentration was further confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy using 1-pyrenemethylamine hydrochloride, PyMeA⋅HCl, as a cationic fluorescent probe. The cmc was determined from the intensity ratios, the first to the third emission peaks I ₁/I ₃, and the excimer to monomer I _E/I _M ratio of the pyrene probe as a function of concentration.     

Ca2+- and Mg2+-induced molecular interactions in a dehydrocholic acid/didodecyldimethylammonium bromide mixed monolayer

The aim of this article is the evaluation of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ subphases presence effect on mixed monolayers composed by dehydrocholic acid (HDHC) and didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB). The monolayer stability was analyzed by the evaluation of thermodynamic parameters, ΔG _mix^E and α. At all calcium ion-tested concentration, the mixed systems X _HDHC = 0.6 and 0.8 at π = 30 mJ m⁻² were always the most favored proportions. The X _HDHC = 0.6 system was also stable in magnesium presence, and the X _HDHC = 0.2-mixed monolayer went through a stable to an unstable state as the content of Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ augment. Finally, the X _HDHC = 0.4 monolayer showed a particular behavior, i.e., remained stable at low cation concentration, unstable at intermediate concentration and stable again at high concentration. The effect was similar at Mg²⁺ presence.     

Synthesis of diblock copolymers with cellulose derivatives. 3. Cellulose derivatives carrying a single pyrene group at the reducing-end and fluorescent studies of their self-assembly systems in aqueous NaOH solutions

Novel cellobiose and cellulose (DP _n =ca. 30) derivatives, N-(1-pyrenebutyloyl)-4-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranosylamine (6), N-(15-(1-pyrenebutyloylamino)-pentadecanoyl)-4-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranosylamine (7), N-(1-pyrenebutyloyl)-β-cellulosylamine (13), N-(15-(1-pyrenebutyloylamino)-pentadecanoyl)-β-cellulosylamine (14) carrying a pyrene group as a single fluorescent probe at the reducing end, were prepared in order to investigate their self-assembly systems in solutions. The relative intensity of the excimer emission at ca. 480 nm due to dimerized pyrenes (intensity I _E) to the monomer emission at ca. 380 nm due to isolated pyrene (intensity I _M), i.e., I _E/I _M, was monitored in various solutions. In water/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixed solvent (0–98%, v/v), the ratio I _E/I _M remained low (0.04) for compound 6 over the range of water concentrations, indicating that pyrenes at C-1 position of compound 6 were diffused. On the other hand, the ratio I _E/I _M increased (0.04–4.96) for compound 7 with the increase in water concentration, indicating that pyrenes at C-1 position were associated. In aqueous NaOH solutions (4.4–17.5%, w/w), compound 14 showed a large increase in the ratio I _E/I _M (0.84–8.14) with the increase in NaOH concentration, compared to compound 13 (0.06–0.41). It was found that the association of hydrophobic groups at the reducing-end of cellulose could be controlled by the hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance of compounds and the solvent polarity.     

Fluorescence observations on complex formation between linear and hyperbranched polyelectrolytes in dilute aqueous solutions

The complexation between poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS) or AMPS copolymers was investigated with the relative excimer emission intensity I_E/I_M of a cationic probe 1-pyrenemethylamine hydrochloride (PyMeA · HCl), fluorescence nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) I_Py/I_Np of naphthalene to pyrene labels, the fluorescence anisotropy r and I_E/I_M of pyrene labels. PEI was a hyperbranched weak polycation in acid solution, which formed complex with anionic polyelectrolytes due to the electrostatic attraction. The I_E/I_M of PyMeA · HCl probe decreased to zero, the intra-, intermolecular NRET I_Py/I_Np and I_E/I_M of pyrene labels on the AMPS copolymers reached their maxima when χ was increased from 0 to 2.4, which was defined as the mole ratio of the amino group in PEI to the AMPS group in the polyanion. These facts indicated the formation of nonstoichiometric complex of the oppositely charged polyelectrolytes when χ = 2.4 at the concentration much lower than their overlap concentrations. The intermolecular aggregate appeared as indicated by an increase in the intermolecular I_Py/I_Np and r with χ up to 2.4 due to neutralizing and hydrophobizing the polyelectrolytes and the bridging effect of the PEI chain bound on different polyanion chains. At high pH, PEI became a neutral polymer and did not bind with the AMPS anion to form the complex as illustrated by the constant value of r for the pyrene labels attached to the AMPS polyanion as that without addition of PEI. The amino group in PEI quenched pyrene and naphthalene emission, resulting a decrease in both I_Np and I_Py.     

2-(p-toluidino)-6-naphthalene sulfonate as a fluorescent probe for flocculation studies of cationic potato amylopectin and nanosized silica particles 1. 2-p-(toluidino)-6-naphthalene sulfonate binding to cationic amylopectin

2-(p-toluidino)-6-naphthalene sulfonate (TNS) is a probe that fluoresces strongly when bound to certain proteins and polymers, but weakly in aqueous solution. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to study the interaction of TNS with native amylopectin potato starch (NApS) and cationized amylopectin potato starch (CApS) in aqueous solution. The anionic TNS binds to CApS at a single type of binding site, with an affinity which has both electrostatic and nonelectrostatic contributions (including hydrogen bonding), whereas binding to NApS occurs at the same type of site but only by nonelectrostatic means. The affinity to CApS decreases strongly with increasing salt concentration, due to screening of the electrostatic attraction, whereas with NApS increasing salt concentration slightly enhances the binding affinity, most likely due to screening of a weak repulsive interaction between TNS and phosphate residues on NApS. The association constant for binding of TNS to CApS in 5 mM NaCl is 110 ± 20 M⁻¹. This comparatively weak binding makes TNS a useful probe in kinetic investigations of the flocculation of anionic silica particles by CApS. Received: 14 August 1998 Accepted in revised form: 4 December 1998     

Conformational Properties of (Z,Z)-, (E,Z)-, and (E,E)-Cycloocta-1,4-dienes

Summary.  Ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G^* level of theory for geometry optimization and the MP2/6-31G^*//HF/6-31G^* level for a single point total energy calculation are reported for (Z,Z)-, (E,Z)-, and (E,E)-cycloocta-1,4-dienes. The C ₂-symmetric twist-boat conformation of (Z,Z)-cycloocta-1,4-diene was calculated to be by 3.6 kJ·mol⁻¹ more stable than the C _S-symmetric boat-chair form; the calculated energy barrier for ring inversion of the twist-boat conformation via the C _S-symmetric boat-boat geometry is 19.1 kJ·mol⁻¹. Interconversion between twist-boat and boat-chair conformations takes place via a half-chair (C ₁) transition state which is 43.5 kJ·mol⁻¹ above the twist-boat form. The unsymmetrical twist-boat-chair conformation of (E,Z)-cycloocta-1,4-diene was calculated to be by 18.7 kJ·mol⁻¹ more stable than the unsymmetrical boat-chair form. The calculated energy barrier for the interconversion of twist-boat-chair and boat-chair is 69.5 kJ·mol⁻¹, whereas the barrier for swiveling of the trans-double bond through the bridge is 172.6 kJ·mol⁻¹. The C _S symmetric crown conformation of the parallel family of (E,E)-cycloocta-1,4-diene was calculated to be by 16.5 kJ·mol⁻¹ more stable than the C _S-symmetric boat-chair form. Interconversion of crown and boat-chair takes place via a chair (C _S) transition state which is 37.2 kJ·mol⁻¹ above the crown conformation. The axial- symmetrical twist geometry of the crossed family of (E,E)-cycloocta-1,4-diene is 5.9 kJ·mol⁻¹ less stable than the crown conformation. Corresponding author. E-mail: isayavar@yahoo.com Received March 25, 2002; accepted April 3, 2002     

Function and performance of silicone copolymer (VI). Synthesis and novel solution behavior of water-soluble polysiloxanes with different hydrophiles

Silicone surfactants containing different pendant hydrophilic groups such as diethanol tertiary amine (SHE, nonionic), diethanol methyl quaternary amine (cationic) and triethyl quaternary amine (cationic) have been synthesized and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and gel permeation chromatography. The solution behavior of these novel surfactants has also been investigated by surface tension measurement and a fluorescence method. It has been observed that the surface tension of these surfactants decreases as a function of time at a very low polymer concentration (1 × 10⁻⁴ wt%). At higher concentration (0.1 wt%), the equilibrium surface tensions reached very low values compared to that of typical polymer surfactants, for example, poly(ethylene oxide–propylene oxide) block copolymer (EPE0.8). In addition, the low I ₁/I ₃ values of these silicone surfactants indicate the formation of polymer aggregates in aqueous solution, and an extremely low I ₁/I ₃ value of SHE (1.06) compared to other polymeric surfactants (EPE0.8) and conventional surfactants [poly(ethylene glycol n-nonyl phenyl ethers), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and sodium dodecyl sulfate] indicates its stronger hydrophobicity. Received: 15 May 2000 Accepted: 18 October 2000     

Micellar effects of a triazole-based cationic gemini surfactant on the rate of a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction

The reaction between 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and hydroxide ion was studied spectrophotometrically at 25 °C in micelles of a triazole-based cationic gemini surfactant 18-triazole-18 or micelles of the conventional cationic surfactant CTAB. Both CTAB and 18-triazole-18 accelerated this nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction. The binding constant of the substrate to the micelle, K _S, for 18-triazole-18 (K _S=335 M⁻¹) was found to be much larger than that for CTAB (85 M⁻¹) by fitting the kinetic results with pseudophase ion-exchange (PIE) model, which suggests that DNCB binds with gemini micelles more easily than it does with CTAB micelles. It was also found that 18-triazole-18 catalytic system was in accordance with PIE model at surfactant concentrations below ca. 0.5 mM, above which the increase of viscosity and the change of micelle size with increased surfactant concentration may remarkably influence the reaction. This was quite different from the reaction catalyzed by micelles of the conventional surfactant CTAB.     

Fluorescence study of chromophore labeled strong polyelectrolyte bound with oppositely charged surfactant

Four strong polyelectrolyte samples of 2-(acrylamido)-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) were radically copolymerized with a single label of naphthalene or pyrene, with both labels and without label, containing about 40 mol % AMPS. Fluorescence nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) I_Py/I_Np, anisotropy r, I₁/I₃ and excimer emission I_E/I_M of pyrene labels were observed in dilute aqueous solutions with and without cationic surfactant of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The overlap concentration was determined as 3 g/L from the appearance of intermolecular excimer. The variation of intra- and intermolecular NRET with total polyelectrolyte concentration showed that the charged chains preferentially interpenetrated each other rather than reduce their coil volume as their concentration beyond the overlap threshold. By binding with CTAB, the polyelectrolyte chain became more coiled as known from the reduced viscosity. The intramolecular NRET was dominant when [CTAB]Д᎒^-5 M and then the intermolecular NRET occurred at higher CTAB concentrations with hydrophobic aggregation between CTAB tails bound on different polyelectrolyte chains. The CTAB concentration corresponding to the maxima of I_Py/I_Np just is equal to the AMPS monomer concentration, indicating the formation of 1:1 binding between surfactant and polyelectrolyte in very dilute solutions. Added salt of NaCl up to 0.1 M hardly affected the intramolecular NRET but affected the I_Py/I_Np value for the intermolecular NRET.     

Pyrene fluorescence measurements of metastable oil droplets in surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsions

 The fluorescence behavior of pyrene in oil droplets of a surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsion was studied for benzene, fluorobenzene, n-hexane and cyclohexane droplets in water. The excimer–monomer fluorescence ratio immediately after sonication, I _E/I _M(0), of the benzene/water emulsion was 8–10 times larger than for the benzene solution. The ratio I _E/I _M(t) increased in the first 10–20 min before it decreased to zero. Similar behavior was observed for the fluorobenzene/water emulsion, while I _E/I _M(0) for emulsions with n-hexane and cyclohexane was smaller than for benzene and fluorobenzene/water emulsions. I _E/I _M(t) hardly changed with time for the n-hexane and cyclohexane/water emulsions. This different behavior was attributed to the increased solubility of nanometer-size droplets with benzene and fluorobenzene. Received: 20 June 2001 Accepted: 19 April 2001     

Cathodoluminescence Depth Profiling in SiO2:Ge Layers

 For investigation of the luminescent center profile cathodoluminescence measurements are used under variation of the primary electron energy E ₀ = 2…30 keV. Applying a constant incident power regime (E ₀·I ₀ = const), the depth profiles of luminescent centers are deduced from the range of the electron energy transfer profiles dE/dx. Thermally grown SiO₂ layers of thickness d = 500 nm have been implanted by Ge⁺-ions of energy 350 keV and doses (0.5–5)10¹⁶ ions/cm². Thus Ge profiles with a concentration maximum of (0.4 – 4) at% at the depth of d_m≅240 nm are expected. Afterwards the layers have been partially annealed up to T _a = 1100 °C for one hour in dry nitrogen. After thermal annealing, not only the typical violet luminescence (λ = 400 nm) of the Ge centers is strongly increased but also the luminescent center profiles are shifted from about 250 nm to 170 nm depth towards the surface. This process should be described by Ge diffusion processes, precipitation and finally Ge nanocluster formation. Additionally, a Ge surface layer is piled-up extending to a depth of roughly 25 nm.     

Photophysical and viscometric properties of naphthalene-labeled acrylamide/N,N-dimethyl maleimido propyl ammonium propane sulfonate copolymer

 The synthesis, viscometric, and fluorescence properties of a water-soluble zwitterionic sulfobetaine copolymer, poly(ADMMAPS)/NA, are reported. When fluorescent hydrophobes (naphthyl group) are incorporated into the zwitterionic copolymer, the photophysical response may effectively probe solution behavior on the microscopic level. Experimental results indicate that I _E/I _M steadily increases with increases in polymer concentration. I _E/I _M in aqueous solution is greater than that in aqueous potassium chloride solution. Dynamic light scattering (QELS) measurements show that hydrodynamic diameters of the naphthalene-labeled zwitterionic sulfobetaine copolymer increase with an increasing salt concentration. Viscosity studies reveal that the polymer coil expanded as more salt is added. In fluorescence quenching study, the reduction in the quenching efficiency of Tl⁺ with salt addition can arise from enhanced compartmentalization of naphthalene labels as added electrolyte enhances intrapolymer micellization. The intrapolymer micelle is easily formed, indicating that the thallium ion has difficulty reacting with bound naphthalenes located in the polymer coil. The naphthalene-labeled zwitterionic sulfobetaine copolymer is depicted as a compacted polymer coil conformation in deionized water because of intra-and inter-associations. Consequently, salt addition breaks up the associations and enhances the intrapolymer micellization. The microscopic and macroscopic behaviors of zwitterionic sulfobetaine copolymer differ a lot from those of the corresponding cationic copolymer. Received: 4 February 1997 Accepted: 1 May 1997     

Configurations conducive to the formation of intramolecular excimers in poly(N‐vinyl carbazole) and its copolymers

The ratios of the intensity of excimer and monomer emissions, denoted I_E/I_M, in poly(N‐vinyl carbazole) and copolymers of N‐vinyl carbazole and methyl methacrylate were measured with steady‐state fluorescence. Measurements were performed in dilute solutions of several fluid solvents at 25 °C and in a solid matrix of poly(methyl methacrylate) at room temperature. The values of I_E/I_M depended on the nature of the solvent, the emission wavelength, and the copolymer composition. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed for diastereoisomers of 2,4‐di(N‐carbazolyl)pentane and for isotactic and syndiotactic trichromophoric copolymer fragments to assist in the identification of the thermally accessible conformations capable of forming intramolecular excimers and the configurational relationship of the carbazole units in these complexes. Nearest neighbor carbazole groups made the dominant contribution to the excimers. Excimers were more likely in isotactic sequences than in syndiotactic sequences, as was also the case for the low‐energy excimer arising from the complete overlap of two carbazole units. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1272–1281, 2001     

Fluoride-induced intermolecular excimer formation of bispyrenyl thioureas linked by polyethylene glycol chains

New bispyrenyl thioureas linked by polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains, L1-L3, and methoxy benzene pyrene thiourea, L4, were synthesized. Upon binding with F⁻ in CHCl₃, L1-L3 exhibited strong excimer emission bands (I_E) and weak monomer emission bands (I_M), while L4 displayed the same intensity of both bands. However, little or no change was observed in fluorescence spectra of L1 upon adding OH⁻, AcO⁻, BzO⁻, H₂PO₄⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, and I⁻. Therefore, only F⁻ induced the pyrene excimer formation. Job’s plots showed 1/1 or 2/2 complexation of L1 with F⁻. Ratios of I_E/I_M of L1·F⁻ complex were dependent on the concentration of L1, implying that the dimerization of L1 proceeded via the intermolecular excimer formation. Among L1-L4, L1 possessed the highest binding constant and sensitivity toward F⁻ implying the importance of the linking PEG chain. L1 was demonstrated to be an excellent probe for F⁻ in CHCl₃ with the detection limit as low as 46.2 μg/L.     

Preparation of substituted ionic carbohydrate polymers and their interactions with ionic surfactants

The formation of micelles of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in aqueous solutions containing charged polysaccharides was studied by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements using pyrene as a photophysical probe. Micropolarity studies using the I₁/I₃ ratio of the vibronic emission bands of pyrene and the behaviour of the I_E/I_M ratio between the excimer and monomer emissions show the formation of hydrophobic domains. The interactions between the polyelectrolytes and surfactants of opposite charge lead to the formation of induced pre-micelles at surfactant concentrations lower than the critical micellar concentration (cmc) of the surfactants. At similar concentrations, the I_E/I_M ratio shows a peak. This aggregation process is assumed to be due to electrostatic attractions. At higher surfactant concentrations, near the critical micellar concentration, micelles with the same properties as those found in pure aqueous solution are formed. On the other hand, systems containing polyelectrolytes and surfactants of the same charge do not show this behaviour at low concentrations. The presence of long alkyl chains bound to the polyelectrolytes also induces the formation of free micelles at concentrations somewhat below the aqueous cmc.     

Thermodynamic exploitation of the liquidus curves in the MIPO3–Pb(PO3)2, MIPO3–Cu(PO3)2 and MIPO3–Ce(PO3)3 systems (M I=Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ag, Tl)

The thermodynamic exploitation of the solid–liquid equilibria in the M^IPO₃–Pb(PO₃)₂, M^IPO₃–Cu(PO₃)₂ and M^IPO₃–Ce(PO₃)₃ systems (with M ^I=Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ag, Tl) is carried out using a semi-empirical equation of the liquidus curves already used with success for similar binary systems. The enthalpy of fusion is calculated for each pure polyphosphate on the assumption that the liquid solution is ideal and only formed by M^IPO₃ and M(PO₃)_q entities (q=2 for Pb and Cu, q=3 for M=Ce). In the most binary systems, a wide difference between the calculated values of the melting enthalpies of these polyphosphates and the measured ones determined from the DTA curves, was observed. This difference is probably due to the existence of some molecular associations in the liquid phase.