Excited state acid-base reactions in micelles

Abstract

The excited acid-base reactions of 1-naphthol and pyren-1-amine have been studied in sodium dodecyl sulphate surfactant micelles. These molecules which show complete equilibration for excited state reactions in water show only partial equilibration in micelles (2-naphthol goes from partial equilibration to complete lack of reaction). It is believed that this is a micellar viscosity effect.