A Study on the Location and Aggregation of Tetrahydrophenylporphyrin with a Single Hexadecyl Chain in Triton X-100 Micelle

Abstract

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 3.9×10-6 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.