New long alkyl side-chain benzo[a]phenoxazines as micellisation probes

Several novel fluorescent benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides possessing a long aliphatic chain substituent at the 5-amino function of the heterocycle were efficiently synthesised. All compounds obtained absorbed and emitted at longer wavelengths with moderate to good fluorescent quantum yields. The photophysics of N-[10-methyl-5-(octylamino)-9H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-9-ylidene]ethanaminium chloride and N-[10-methyl-5-(dodecylamino)-9H-benzo[a]phenoxazin-9-ylidene]ethanaminium chloride was studied in Triton® X-100 and in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide micellar media, demonstrating the capability of these fluorophores in detecting the micellisation process.