Effects of pressure on the photodimerization of acenaphthylene in micellar systems

Abstract

The photodimerization of acenaphthylene in aqueous micellar systems of a series of sodium n-alkyl sulphates (sodium octyl sulphate, decyl sulphate and dodecyl sulphate) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide has been studied at high pressures up to 150 MPa. The dimerization was strongly influenced by the size and shape of the micelles used and by the pressure, but not by the charge on the surfactants. Pressure promoted dimerization in all micellar systems studied. The dimerizations of acenaphthylene in these heterogeneous systems have been compared with those in homogeneous organic solvents (n-alkanes, methanol and carbon tetrachloride) at atmospheric and high pressures. In homogeneous systems the dimerization is retarded or unaffected by pressure.