AN AMPHIPHILIC HEMICYANINE DYE EMPLOYED AS A SENSITIVE PROBE OF WATERIN REVERSE AOT MICELLES

When the amphiphilic hemicyanine dye l-4-(2-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)e thenyl)pyridinium bromide is solubilized in reverse AOT micelles, it f orms an adduct which extensively modifies absorption and fluorescence spectra of the dye. The formation of an adduct is very sensitive to th e presence of water. Thus the water content of AOT micelles can be acc urately monitored by the photophysical behavior of the dye. In particu lar the red edge excitation shift can be used as a handy and accurate index to determine the water content.