TRANSLATIONAL DIFFUSION AND OTHER PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF A BOLAFORM SURFACTANT IN SOLUTION

Some physicochemical properties of a synthetic amphiphilic molecule ha ving as polar heads two azacrown ethers,joined to both ends of a C-16 alkyl chain, have been investigated. According to experimental evidenc e by self-diffusion, viscosity, and surface tension trends, as well as to information arising from the phase diagram, such an alpha-omega co mpound forms large aggregates, presumably vesicles, and exhibit's cons olute phenomena. Its behavior can be considered intermediate between t hat of vesicle-forming lipids and that of nonionic surfactants.