Solubilization of Pure and Aqueous 1,2,3-Propanetriol by Reverse Aggregates of Aerosol−OT in Isooctane Probed by FTIR and 1H NMR Spectroscopy

Solubilization of 1,2,3-propanetriol, PT, and its aqueous solution, PT−W, (W = water), by reverse aggregates of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate, Aerosol−OT or AOT, in isooctane has been studied by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy, and the results were compared with those of solubilization of 1,2-ethanediol, ED, and W by the same surfactant. Curve fitting of the IR νOD band of aggregate-solubilized PT or PT−W showed the presence of a main peak and a smaller one. Dependence on [solubilizate]/[AOT] of 1H NMR chemical shifts, δproton, of solubilized PT, PT−W, as well as the surfactant protons showed monotonic increase or decrease. Both spectroscopic techniques indicated the following order of interaction with AOT:  PT > ED > W. Over the entire range of [solubilizate]/[AOT], the main νOD peak areas correspond to 88 ± 2%, and 90 ± 2% of the total peak areas for PT, and PT−W, respectively. This result shows that aggregate-solubilized PT or PT−W do not seem to coexist in “layers” of different structures, as s...