Photophysical behavior in spread monolayers. Dansyl fluorescence as a probe for polarity at the air-water interface

Abstract

The emission spectrum of N-[5-(dimethylamino)naphthalene-1-sulfonyl]dihexadecylamine (dansyldihexadecylamine) in monolayers at the air-water interface has been studied. In some cases sudden shifts in the dansyl emission can be correlated with particular features of the surface pressure-area isotherms. These spectral shifts can be explained in terms of a change in the conformation of the head group on the surface and with aggregation of the dansyldihexadecylamine. In other cases the dansyl emission shows a blue shift with increasing compression that can be associated with reduced head-group hydration. © 1987 American Chemical Society.