Self-Indicating Surfactants: Potentially Micellar Solvatochromic Iron(II) Complexes

Abstract
The preparation of ternary iron(II) complexes [Fe(CN)2(LL)2] and [Fe(CN)4(LL)]2-, where LL = a Schiff base derived from 2-acetyl pyridine and a long chain amine 1-Me(CH2)nNH2 (n = 11, 15, 17), is described. These complexes exhibit strong solvatochromism and can thus be used to probe solvation in organised aqueous media, as in ternary water - Aerosol OT- hexanol mixtures. They also have a dramatic effect on the micellisation behaviour of the uncharged surfactant Triton X-100.