SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF HYDROPHOBIC ASSOCIATION - MEROCYANINE DYES IN CATIONIC AND ANIONIC MICELLES

The effect of the micelle forming surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide on the visible spectra of merocyanine dyes, l-alkyl-4-[(oxocyclohexadienylidene)ethylidene]-1,4-dihydropyridines, with various length 1-alkyl chains is reported. In all cases the dye spectra were shifted to the red when incorporated into micelles and the magnitude of this shift increases with more hydrophobic dyes. The dependency of the spectral shift on dye chain length also depended on the nature of the surfactant head group. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.