Spectroscopic Investigations on the Interaction of Crystal Violet with Nonionic Micelles of Brij and Igepal Surfactants in Aqueous Media

The behavior of the triphenylmethane dye crystal violet in aqueous solutions containing polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactants was investigated using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The interactions of the dye were examined in micellar media in order to prevent dye aggregation and to ensure maximum dye and surfactant interaction. The relative fluorescence enhancements and the binding constants of the dye to the surfactant micelles were determined. The micropolarities of the micellar environment sensed by the pyrene probe were estimated from the I ₁/I ₃ intensity ratios of the fluorescence spectra of pyrene. The fluorescence quenching of pyrene by hexadecylpyridinium chloride was investigated in aqueous surfactant mixtures at a fixed concentration of surfactant in order to determine the aggregation numbers. Attempts were made to correlate the binding constants obtained in this investigation to various micellar parameters.     

Micelles as Containers for Self‐Assembled Nanodevices: A Fluorescent Sensor for Lipophilicity

Potentiometric titrations, fluorescence versus pH titrations, dynamic light scattering and fluorescence polarization anisotropy studies demonstrate that inside the nanodimensioned Triton X‐100 micelles, 1‐pyrenecarboxylic acid, PCOO^?, forms an apical complex with the Zn²⁺ cation encircled by a lipophilic cyclen ligand and hugely increasing its fluorescence. The ability of the Zn²⁺‐cyclen‐PCOO^? complex plus its micellar container to act as a fluorescent sensor to evaluate the lipophilicity of molecular species is demonstrated on the fatty acid series CH₃(CH₂)_xCOOH (x=0–16). At pH 7.4 a decrease in fluorescence is observed on the addition of fatty acids that is directly related to their chain length, that is, to their tendency to enter the micellar containers, where they dislocate PCOO^? from the Zn²⁺ centre. The independent determination of fatty acid pK_a values in the presence of Triton X‐100 micelles confirms that our fluorescent micellar device is capable of sensing their lipophilicity.     

Polyelectrolyte effects on the quenching of pyrene fluorescence in solutions of a pyrene substituted poly(acrylic acid)

The quenching of pyrene fluorescence by nitromethane, Tl⁺, Cu²⁺, I^?, and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) in aqueous solutions of a pyrene substituted poly(acrylic acid) ( 1 ) was influenced by the “polyelectrolyte effect” of 1 . The efficiency of quenching in solutions of 1 was measured in terms of the Stern–Volmer constants for dynamic and static quenching which were obtained from comparison of the intensity and lifetime of pyrene fluorescence in solutions of 1 and a monomer model compound. The efficiency of quenching in solutions of 1 was always greater at high pH ( 9 ) in comparison to that at low pH ( 4 ). The ionization of carboxylic groups in 1 caused an expansion of the polymer mainchain and concomitant exposure of the pyrene molecules to the aqueous phase and quencher. The polyanion domain of 1 favored the condensation of cationic quenchers and could account for very efficient quenching in case of Cu²⁺ and Tl⁺. A very efficient quenching of pyrene fluorescence in solutions of 1 by DMAP at high pH was attributed to the hydrophobic interactions of DMAP and pyrene moiety. The iodide ions were less efficient quenchers of pyrene fluorescence due to electrostatic repulsion from the polyanion. The efficiency of quenching by nitromethane was not significantly affected by ionization of the carboxylic groups in 1 .     

Abnormal Fluorescence Behavior of Pyrene Functionalized Chitosan Films to Some Quenchers

Investigation of the fluorescence behavior of a pyrene functionalized chitosan film (PSC-CS) to some quenchers,including KI,CH3NO2 and Cu(NO3)2,has revealed that the monomer emission from the PSC-CS film increased rather than decreased,whereas the excimer emission decreased with the increase of time of duration after addition of KI or Cu(NO3)2.Both the increasing and decreasing processes could last as long as 20min to 40min,Unlike that observed in the system containing KI or Cu(NO3)2,for CH3NO2 system,both the monomer emission and the excimer emission increased with introduction of the quencher,but the excimer emission only started to increase after an hour-long induction period.The position of the excimer emission of the PSC-CS film did not change very much with addition of KI or Cu(NO3)2.However,addition of CH3NO2 made the excimer emission blue shifted for at least 20nm indicating formation of distorted excimers opr partially overlapped excimers.The fluorescence response of the film to external additions is sensitive but is low in selectivity.This property may make the film use as a novel sensing material for monitoring the purity of water.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Water‐Soluble Carboxylated Polyfluorene and Its Fluorescence Quenching by Cationic Quenchers and Proteins

We have developed a new intermediate monomer, 2,7‐[bis(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)‐9,9‐bis(3‐(tert‐butyl propanoate))]fluorene, that allows the easy synthesis of water‐soluble carboxylated polyfluorenes. As an example, poly[9,9′‐bis(3′′‐propanoate)fluoren‐2,7‐yl] sodium salt was synthesized by the Suzuki coupling reaction, and the properties of the polymer were studied in aqueous solutions of different pH. Fluorescence quenching of the polymer by different cationic quenchers (MV²⁺, MV⁴⁺, and NO₂MV²⁺; MV=methyl viologen) was studied, and the quenching constants were found to be dependent on the charge and electron affinity of the quencher molecule and the pH of the medium. The largest quenching constant was observed to be 1.39×10⁸ M ^?1 for NO₂MV²⁺ at pH 7. The change in polymer fluorescence upon interaction with different proteins was also studied. Strong fluorescence quenching of the polymer was observed in the presence of cytochrome c, whereas weak quenching was observed in the presence of myoglobin and bovine serum albumin. Lysozyme quenched the polymer emission at low protein concentrations, and the quenching became saturated at high protein concentrations. Under similar experimental conditions, the polymer showed improved quenching efficiencies toward cationic quenchers and a more selective response to proteins relative to other carboxylated conjugated polymers.     

Kinetic and redox characteristics of semireduced species derived from phenosafranine in homogeneous aqueous and sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar media

One‐electron reduction of phenosafranine (PS⁺ 3,7‐diamino‐5‐phenylphenazinium chloride), a phenazinium dye, has been studied in homogeneous aqueous and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar media, using the pulse radiolysis technique. The various reducing radicals employed for the study in homogeneous aqueous medium were e_aq^?, H^˙, CO_2,^˙?, and isopropyl ketyl radicals (CH₃)₂ ^˙COH. Semireduced species generated by these reactions have been characterized by their absorption spectra, decay kinetics, and pK_a. The one‐electron reduction potential of PS⁺ was determined at pH 7 in homogeneous aqueous solution employing nitrobenzene (NB/NB^˙?) as the standard couple. One‐electron reduction in SDS micellar medium and a detailed spectrophotometric investigation of the parent dye in this surfactant system was carried out in order to understand the dye–surfactant interactions in the micellar and premicellar media.© 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 56–66, 2002     

Pyrene Fluorescence in the Presence of Acrylic Acid-Ethyl Methacrylate Copolymers: Effect of the Copolymer Composition in the Formation of Microdomains*

The properties of aqueous solutions of acrylic acid-ethyl methacrylate (EMA) copolymers have been investigated using pyrene and pyrene pyrenebutyltrimethylammonium (PBTA) as probes. Static and dynamic fluorescence have been used to obtain information about the microenviron-ments formed. Micropolarity studies using the I₁/I₃ ratio of the vibronic bands of pyrene show the formation of hydrophobic domains. At low pH the increase of the amount of ethyl methacrylate in the copolymers shows that aqueous microdomains are excluded from the core of the polymer, for the copolymers with high content of EMA low polarity microdomains are still present on the mac-romolecular chain even at higher pH. The pH-induced conformational transition indicates that the more hydro-phobic copolymers adopt a more tightly coiled conformation. Compared to PAA, the decay times for both probes are increased twice for the polymer with 25% molar proportion of EMA. The fluorescence quenching of the probes by nitromethane depends on pH, copolymer composition and probe structure. The efficiency of quenching decreases with increase of the EMA proportion in the copolymers. Pyrene is more efficiently quenched than PBTA as a consequence of the latter being located in more internal (less accessible) sites of the polymer structure.     

Fluorescence study for the electrostatic interaction and aggregation in dilute polar solution of polyelectrolytes

Fluorescence decay and quenching of pyrene labels on copolymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid (AMPS) and N,N-dimethylacryl-amide (DMAA) were observed in dilute salt-free aqueous solutions as a function of the mole fraction F_AMPS of AMPS from 0 to 0.896. Monoexponential and biexponential decays were found for the samples of F_AMPS < 0.35 and samples of FAMPS > 0.35, respectively. The fast decay component is 80% and the averaged lifetime <τ> and lifetime τ₁ of the fast decay decreased with increasing F_AMPS. Quenching efficiency of Cu²⁺, CH₃NO₂, and dinitrobenzene to the pyrene label was investigated in the framework of Stern-Volmer plot. The quenching effects of Cu²⁺ included both of dynamic and static ones, the latter was due to the condensed Cu²⁺. For the neutral quenchers, the quenching rate constant k_q increased when F_AMPS < 0.449 then decreased, showing a decline of accessibility to the pyrene label. I₁/I₃ value in salt-free dilute aqueous solution and in DMSO solution decreased obviously with an increase in F_AMPS, indicating that the labeled fluorophore experienced a decrease in polarity of its microenvironment with increasing charge density of the polymer. This I₁/I₃ decrease was enhanced with increasing the polymer concentration and adding salt NaCl up to 0.75 mol/L showed no effect on the appearance of this decrease. These results were interpreted consistently with the counterion condensation concept, where condensed counterions induced the “temporal” aggregation of less-polar in the polyelectrolyte solutions surrounding the pyrene labels.     

Calculations of the Bond Dissociation Energies for NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Scission in Some Nitro Compounds

The X(C,N,O)—NO₂ bond dissociation energy (BDE) for CH₃NO₂, C₂H₃NO₂, C₂H₅NO₂, HONO₂, CH₃ONO₂, C₂H₅ONO₂, NH₂NO₂, (CH₃)₂NNO₂ are computed using the DFT (B3LYP, B3PW91), the single and double-coupled cluster excited (CCSD), and the complete basis set (CBS-Q) methods, with the 6-311G^** and cc-pVDZ basis sets. By comparing the computed energies and experimental results, we find that the DFT method can not give good results of BDE, but, the BDEs generated by the CCSD/cc-pVDZ, CBS-Q are in good agreement with experimental values.     

TEA CO2 laser-induced reaction of CH3NO2 with CF2HCl: A mechanistic study

Dissociation of nitromethane has been observed when a mixture of CF₂HCl and CH₃NO₂ is irradiated using pulsed TEA CO₂ laser at 9R (24) line (1081 cm^-1), which is strongly absorbed by CF₂HCl but not by CH₃NO₂. Under low laser fluence conditions, only nitromethane dissociates, whereas at high fluence CF₂HCl also undergoes dissociation, showing that dissociation occurs via the vibrational energy transfer processes from the TEA CO₂ laser-excited CF₂HCl to CH₃NO₂. Time-resolved infrared fluorescence from vibrationally excited CF₂HCl and CH₃NO₂ molecules as well as UV absorption of CF₂ radicals are carried out to elucidate the dynamics of excitation/dissociation and the chemical reactions of the dissociation products.     

Excited state proton transfer in β-carboline

Steady state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques were used to investigate the excited state acid—base equilibria behaviour of β-carboline and 2-methyl-β-carboline in aqueous solutions. In acid conditions the β-carboline cation is responsible for light absorption and fluorescence (λ_max = 450 nm; τ_F = 22.0 ns). However, in alkaline solutions excitation of the neutral species leads to the formation of the β-carboline cation by a rapid proton transfer with the solvent. A diffusion-controlled quenching of the excited state cation by OH⁻ ions produces a zwitterion species which fluoresces with λ_max at 510 nm (τ_F = 1.6 ns). The zwitterion is also formed after excitation of the ground state anion at pH 14. pK values for the ground state and excited state acid—base equilibria are reported.     

Hydrophobic N‐Diazeniumdiolates and the Aqueous Interface of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) Micelles

Zwitterionic diazeniumdiolates of the form RN[N(O)NO^?](CH₂)₂NH₂⁺R, where R=CH₃ ( 1 ), (CH₂)₃CH₃ ( 2 ), (CH₂)₅CH₃ ( 3 ), and (CH₂)₇CH₃ ( 4 ) were synthesized by reaction of the corresponding diamines with nitric oxide. Spectrophotometrically determined pK_a(O) values, attributed to protonation at the terminal oxygen of the diazeniumdiolate group, show shifts to higher values in dependence of the chain lengths of R. The pH dependence of the decomposition of NO donors 1 – 3 was studied in buffered solution between pH 5 and 8 at 22 °C, from which pK_a(N) values for protonation at the amino nitrogen, leading to release of NO, were estimated. It is shown that the decomposition of these diazeniumdiolates is markedly catalyzed by anionic SDS micelles. First‐order rate constants for the decay of 1 – 4 were determined in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 22 °C as a function of SDS concentration. Micellar binding constants, K_SM, for the association of diazeniumdiolates 1 – 3 with the SDS micelles were also determined, again showing a significant increase with increasing length of the alkyl side chains. The decomposition of 1 – 3 in micellar solution is quantitatively described by using the pseudo‐phase ion‐exchange (PIE) model, in which the degree of micellar catalysis is taken into account through the ratio of the second‐order rate constants (k_2m/k_2w) for decay in the micelles and in the bulk aqueous phase. The decay kinetics of 1 – 3 were further studied in the presence of cosolvents and nonionic surfactants, but no effect on the rate of NO release was observed. The kinetic data are discussed in terms of association to the micelle–aqueous phase interface of the negatively charged micelles. The apparent interfacial pH value of SDS micelles was evaluated from comparison of the pH dependence of the first‐order decay rate constants of 2 and 3 in neat buffer and the rate data obtained for the surfactant‐mediated decay. For a bulk phase of pH 7.4, an interfacial pH of 5.7–5.8 was determined, consistent with the distribution of H⁺ in the vicinity of the negatively charged micelles. The data demonstrate the utility of 2 and 3 as probes for the determination of the apparent pH value in the Stern region of anionic micelles.     

Interaction of slightly cross-linked gels of poly(diallyldimethylammonium bromide) with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Diffusion of surfactant ions in gel

The dynamics of the changing microenvironment of the fluorescent probe pyrene in slightly cross-linked networks of poly(diallyldimethylmmonium bromide) during diffusion of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the gel phase has been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Values of the spectral ratio I₃/I₁ for pyrene monomer included in SDS micelles in the swollen networks fall between the corresponding values for pyrene in water and for pyrene dissolved in SDS micelles in aqueous solution. In the narrow interval of the surfactant concentrations in the gel phase, the formation of pyrene excimers is observed. The values of the critical micelle concentration in the gel phase (ca. 5 × 10^?4 to 8 × 10^?4 mol/L) are tenfold lower than in aqueous solutions of the surfactant. The effective micellar diffusion coeffecient D in the gel phase increases with increasing swelling of the network. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Analysis of inorganic anions by electrostatic ion chromatography using zwitterionic/cationic mixed micelles as the stationary phase

The inability to separate fluoride, phosphate and sulfate by electrostatic ion chromatography (EIC) was overcome by using an ODS silica column coated with mixed zwitterionic-cationic surfactants as the stationary phase. The best results were obtained using the zwitterionic surfactant, 3-(N,N-dimethylmyristylammonium)-propanesulfonate (C₁₉H₄₁NO₃S), and the cationic surfactant, myristyltrimethylammonium, CH₃(CH₂)₁₃N⁺(CH₃)₃, in a 10:1 molar ratio in the column coating solution. With a dilute solution of sodium tetraborate as the eluent the model analyte anions were completely separated in the following elution order: F^–, HPO₄ ^2–, SO₄ ^2–, Cl^–, NO₂ ^–, Br^–, NO₃ ^–. The very early elution of phosphate and sulfate is most unusual and is unique to this system. Detection limits better than 1.1 × 10^–4 mM and linear calibration plots up to 7.0 mM were obtained with a suppressed conductivity system.     

Aggregation and Polymerization of PEG-Based Macromonomers with Methacryloyl Group as the Only Hydrophobic Segment

Aggregation behavior in aqueous solution of a series of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based macromonomers with methacryloyl group as the only hydrophobic segment has been investigated using surface tension, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as a probe, and small-angle neutron scattering techniques. The general formula of these macromonomers is CH₂=C(CH₃)–CO–O–E_m–CH₃, where E is the ethylene glycol unit and m=8 (ME₈), 18 (ME₁₈), 49 (ME₄₉), and 120 (ME₁₂₀). The results indicate that a macromonomer with 8 ethylene glycol units forms as an aggregate above a certain critical concentration, which can be defined as critical aggregation concentration. The observed high value of I₁/I₃ in pyrene emission spectra at the interface of these aggregates and the inability to scatter a neutron beam by these aggregates indicate that the hydrophobic cluster formed by this macromonomer is remarkably solvated. ME₁₈ has a tendency to aggregate but others do not form any hydrophobic cluster. The homopolymerization behaviors of these macromonomers in an aqueous medium at 70°C are consistent with these possibi- lities.     

Micellar Formation Study of Crown Ether Surfactants

Fluorescence probe and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods were employed to investigate the micellation of prepared crown ether surfactants, e.g. decyl 15‐crown‐5 and decyl 18‐crown‐6. Pyrene was employed as the fluorescence probe to evaluate the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of these surfactants in aqueous solutions while spin lattice relaxation times (T₁) and chemical shifts of H‐1 NMR were applied in non‐aqueous solutions. Decyl 15‐crown‐5 with lower CMC forms micelles much easier than decyl 18‐crown‐6 with higher CMC in aqueous solutions, whereas decyl 18‐crown‐6 forms micelles easier than decyl 15‐crown‐5 in nonaqueous solutions. Comparison of the CMC of crown ether surfactants and other polyoxyethylene surfactants such as decylhexaethylene glycol was made. Effects of salts and solvents on the micellar formation were also investigated. In general, additions of both alkali metal salts and polar organic solvents into the aqueous surfactant solutions increased in the CMC of these surfactants. The formation of micelles in organic solvents such as methanol and acetonitrile was successfully observed by the NMR method while it was difficult to study these surfactants in organic solutions by the pyrene fluorescence probe method. The NMR study revealed that the formation of micelles resulted in the decrease in all H‐1 spin lattice relaxation times (T₁) of hydrophobic groups, e.g. CH₃ and CH₂, and hydrophilic group OCH₂ of these surfactants. However, upon the micellar formation, the H‐1 chemical shifts (δ) of these surfactant hydrophobic groups were found to shift to downfield (increased δ) while the chemical shift of the hydrophilic group OCH₂ moved to up‐field. Comparison of the spin lattice relaxation time and H‐1 chemical shift methods was also made and discussed.     

A Photochemical Study of Uranyl Ion Interaction with the Triton X-100 Micellar System

This is a report on the spectroscopic characteristics of UO²⁺₂in the excited state in Triton X-100 micellar medium. It also indicates some important results of viscosity and surface tension measurements of the system which have direct relevance to the spectroscopic investigation in the excited state. The quenching of the UO²⁺₂fluorescence due to Triton X-100, upon micellization in the aqueous medium, reveals two kinds of microenvironments of the fluorophore from the Stern–Volmer plot. This has been verified by flash photolytic measurements. A blue shift of the quenched emission spectrum is ascribed to the collisional encounter of UO²⁺₂with the head groups of Triton X-100.     

Theoretical Study on Non-Linear Optics Properties of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and the Effect of Their Intercalation with Carbon Nanotubes

Results of a theoretical study devoted to comparing NLO (non-linear optics) responses of derivatives of tetracene, isochrysene, and pyrene are reported. The static hyperpolarizability β, the dipole moment μ, the HOMO and LUMO orbitals, and their energy gap were calculated using the CAM-B3LYP density functional combined with the cc-pVDZ basis set. The para-disubstituted NO₂-tetracene-N(CH₃)₂ has the highest NLO response, which is related to a large intramolecular charge transfer. Adding vinyl groups to the para-disubstituted NO₂-tetracene-N(CH₃)₂ results in an increase in the NLO responses. We further investigated the effect of the intercalation of various push–pull molecules inside an armchair single-walled carbon nanotube. The intercalation leads to increased NLO responses, something that depends critically on the position of the guest molecule and/or on functionalization of the nanotube by donor and attractor groups.     

Completing dissociation channels of nitromethane and methyl nitrite ions and the role of electronic and internal modes of excitation

Unimolecular dissociation reactions of the isomeric ions of nitromethane and methyl nitrite have been investigated for various electronic states of the ions up to an ionization energy of 18 eV using a photoelectron-photoion coincidence technique. The principal dissociation channels of the nitromethane ion lead to CH₃⁺, NO₂⁺ and NO⁺. Of these only NO⁺ is formed from methyl nitrite ion. A comparison of the NO⁺ dissociation data from both precursors indicates that rearrangement of the nitromethane to the more stable methyl nitrite ion structure preceding NO⁺ formation occurs in competition with direct CN bond cleavage dissociation of the nitromethane ion.Although the product kinetic energy distributions, measured as a function of the internal energy of a given parent-ion electronic state, were statistical in nature, evidence of a more specific dependence upon the initial electronic state was found. The formation of excited stated of the neutral NO₂ fragment which accompanies the CH₃⁺ product from the higher electronic states of the nitromethane ion was identified from the product kinetic energy data. The secondary dissociation of the NO₂⁺ product to NO⁺ + O was also recognized from the kinetic energy data by a comparison of the reduced, or scaled, forms of the energy distribution functions above and below the thermodynamic limit for the secondary reaction.     

Molecular orbital studies of the acidity of substituted methanes

CNDO/2 MO studies have been carried out on CH₄, C₂H₆, CHCL₃ CH₃CN, CH₃NO₂, CH₃CHO, CH₃COCH₃, and their corresponding anions, both in the gas phase and in “aqueous solution” The results closely parallel related experimental studies.