Anomalous temperature-dependent reorientation of cresyl violet in 1-dodecanol

The temperature dependence of the dynamical behavior of cresyl violet in 1-dodecanol was studied by both microscopic and bulk physical techniques. Picosecond rotational diffusion measurements indicate that the solute experiences a very sharp temperature-dependent change in its environment. Steady-state absorption spectroscopy reveals that this effect is due to a change in the solvent-solute interaction of cresyl violet. /sup 13/C NMR measurement of the temperature dependence of the solvent spin-lattice relaxation time (T/sub 1/) shows that the change in solvation is due to a previously unreported change in the state of the bulk solvent.