Interaction between Dyes and Polyelectrolytes. XV. Effect of Mixed Dimer Formation on the Excitation Energy Transfer between Bound Dyes

The effect of polyanions on the formation of mixed dimers of methylene blue (MB) and trypaflavine (TF), MB and phenosafranine (PhS), and MB and pyronine G (PG) was investigated spectrophotometrically. The following polyanions were used: potassium poly(vinyl sulfate) (PVSK), potassium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSSK), sodium poly(methacrylate) (PMANa), and sodium poly-(acrylate) (PAANa). The formation of mixed dimers was dependent on the kind of polyanion and polyanion-dye ratio. MB-photo-sensitized isomerization of cis-p-(phenylazo)-phenyltrimethyl-ammonium iodide (cis-PTA) to the trans-isomer was used advantageously to investigate the triplet excitation energy transfer between cationic dyes bound to polyanions. Although the efficiency of the excitation energy transfer between MB and cis-PTA was enhanced by the addition of polyanions, the formation of mixed dimer of MB with TF, PhS, or PG reduced the efficiency of the excitation energy transfer. Correlation with the formation of mixed dimer of MB with TF, PhS, or PG and the efficiency of the excitation energy transfer from MB to cis-PTA is discussed.