The interactions between the various Iron (II) polypyridyl complexes and Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), a cationic and Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) an anionic were investigated using UV absorption spectroscopy. The binding constant was determined using Scatchard method. In CTAB, the binding is essentially hydrophobic but the electrostatic interaction contribution to the binding from the positively charged quaternary ammonium head group and π-electron rich phenanthroline ligands is also significant. The binding constant in SDS is consistently higher, a direct reflection of stronger electrostatic interaction than in CTAB.
