LIGHT‐DRIVEN REDOX PROCESSES IN FUNCTIONAL MICELLAR UNITS—III. Zn‐TETRAPHENYLPORPHYRIN SENSITIZED REACTIONS IN METHYL VIOLOGENE SURFACTANT ASSEMBLIES

The photoreduction of methyl viologene by ZnTPP triplet excited states was studied in mixed micelles containing the functional surfactant JV‐dodecyl, N‐methyl viologene (C12MV2+) as one and Cetyltrimethylammoniumchloride (CTAC) as the other component. Using the laser photolysis technique the kinetics of the redox reaction were studied at various CTAC/C12MV2+ ratios. The average time for the electron transfer decreases linearly with the C12MV2+ occupancy. The back transfer from C12MV2+ to ZnTPP2+ can be intercepted if a donor such as NADH is cosolubilized in the micelle. In such a system irreversible methyl viologene reduction is achieved which in the presence of a suitable redox catalyst can be used to produce hydrogen from water.