Effect of surfactant structure on catalysis of microemulsion for photoisomerization of trans-stilbene

In this study, the photoisomerization of trans-stilbene was carried out in water in oil (W/O) microemulsions by using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant, respectively. The catalytic effect of microemulsion on this reaction is closely related to the structure of surfactant. When there is no photosensitizer 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA), the surfactant with shorter hydrophobic chain is preferred, while in the presence of DCA, the surfactant with anionic polar group is preferred.