Magnetic resonance studies of a redox probe in a reverse sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate/octane/water microemulsion.

The location and dynamics of the [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) complex inside sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT)/octane/water microemulsions were studied, over a range of droplet sizes, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and molecular modeling. The T(1) magnetic resonance relaxation times of water inside the AOT reverse micelles (RMs) were measured in both the presence and the absence of the [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) complex. Large size droplet RMs (ω(0) > 20) were found to be sensitive to the presence of the [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) complex, which was detected through a decrease in the T(1) relaxation time of the water inside the RM core, as compared to RMs containing no [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+).