Studies on the molecular interaction of phenazine dyes with Triton X-100.

The absorption spectra of phenazine dyes such as phenosafranin (PSF), safranin-O (Saf-O), and safranin-T (Saf-T) in aqueous solution of Triton X-100 (TX-100) show that phenazine dyes form 1:1 charge-transfer (CT) or electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) complex with TX-100. The photogalvanic and photoconductivity studies also support the above interaction. From the thermodynamic, spectrophotometric and photophysical parameters of these complexes, the abilities of dyes to accept electron are found to be in the order: PSF > Saf-O > Saf-T. There is a good correlation among the spectral and thermodynamic properties of these complexes.