The solubilization of n-alkylbenzenes (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene, n-butylbenzene, n-pentylbenzene, n-hexylbenzene) into an aqueous micellar solution of sodium cholate was carried out. Solubilizate concentrations at equilibrium were determined spectrophotometrically at 293.2, 298.2, 303.2, 308.2, and 313.2 K. The first stepwise association constants ((K) over bar (1)) between solubilizate monomers and vacant micelles were evaluated from the equilibrium concentrations and found to increase with increasing hydrophobicity of the solubilizate molecules. From the Gibbs energy change for solubilization at different micelle aggregation numbers and from the molecular structure of the solubilizates, the function of sodium cholate micelles as solubilizer was discussed. Enthalpy and entropy changes of solubilization were calculated from the temperature dependence of the (K) over bar (1) values, and the solubilization was found to be enthalpy-driven for the solubilizates with shorter alkyl chains. The results obtained were also compared with those for conventional aliphatic micelles. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.