Iron(III) salicylate complexes in surfactant solutions

Electron spectroscopy combined with the computer simulation of experimental data is employed to study the influence of different surfactants on the equilibria involved in the formation processes of bis- and tris(ligand) complexes of iron with salicylic acid (H2L). It is established that the formation of tris(ligand) complexes FeL3 is stimulated by both micelles and premicellar aggregates of cationic surfactants in the presence of excess ligand and only by premicellar aggregates at the deficiency of the ligand. The replacement of pyridinium head group by trimethylammonium group decreases the effect, while the application of cationic surfactants with hexadecyl radicals reduces the solubility of the complexes in water.