By comparing the Ni(II)-2-(2-thiazolylazo)-5-(dimethylamino)benzoic acid (TAMB) system with Ni(II)-2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)-5-(dimethylamino)benzoic acid (BTAMB) system, the effect of hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity of color reagents was studied on the surfactant sensitized reactions, the photometric characteristics of the two systems, the distribution of color reagents and the nickel complexes between water and surfactant micelles. By means of NMR, phase separation, extration and dynamic study, the differences and special properties of the two systems were observed The hydrophobic and hydrophilic structure of the reagents plays an important role in the surfactant sensitized reactions. If too strong hydrophilic or hydrophobic reagents (or the complexes) were used, low micellar sensitized effects would be found in the system.

Key words: SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, SURFACTANTS, MOLECULAR STRUCTURE, BENZENECARBOXYLIC ACID P, PROBES, THIAZOLE-AZO COMPOUNDS, MICELLAR SOLUTION, BENZOTHIAZOLE P, HYDROPHOBILITY, ORGANIC REAGENTS