Determination of the Critical Micelle Concentration of Triton X-100 Using the Compound 3-(benzoxazol-2-yl)-7-(N,N-diethylamino)chromen-2-one as Fluorescent Probe

In the present study we estimated the Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) of Triton X-100 in an aqueous buffered medium (PBS buffer, pH 7.4), using 3-(benzoxazol-2-yl)-7-(N,N-diethylamino)chromen-2-one (BDC), a push-pull compound, as extrinsic fluorescence probe. The CMC value found, 0.33 mmol L-1, shows good agreement with data from literature obtained using the fluorescence probe technique. Additionally, the polarity, in terms of the ET(30) scale, and the viscosity of the micelle microenvironment in which the probe is preferentially allocated, was estimated as being 46.9 kcal mol(-1) and 70.3 cP, respectively, confirming that this microdomain is polar and highly viscous, with characteristics of polyethylene glycol groups consisting in the palisade layer at the micelle-water interface.