A study on the location and aggregation of tetrahydrophenylporphyrin with a single hexadecyl chain in triton X-100 micelle

The location and aggregation of 5,10,15-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)-20-(hexadecyloxyphenyl)porphyrin (P) in nonionic polyoxyethylene (9.5) octylphenol (Triton X-100) micelle solutions were studied by means of UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra. P forms premicelle surfactant-porphyrin aggregates when the surfactant concentration is below and approaching the CMC. In Triton X-100 micelle solutions, different types of H-aggregates of P were formed when the concentration of P is higher than 3.9 x 10(-6) mol dm(-3). As the bulk pH is changed, a transfer process for the porphyrin moiety in Triton X-100 micelle occurs. In neutral Triton X-100 micelle solutions, P may be located at the inner layer of the micelle; in basic conditions, the porphyrin moiety may transfer to the outer surface of the micelle. The kinetic study of porphyrin complexed with Cu(II) in Triton X-100 micelle solutions shows that the metalation rate could be controlled by changing the pH.