THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF POLYHYDROXY AMPHIPHILES AND THEIR AGGREGATION BEHAVIOR IN WATER .1. THE CONTACT PREPARATION METHOD AS A TOOL FOR EMPIRICAL-STUDIES
Ha. Vandoren et Lm. Wingert, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF POLYHYDROXY AMPHIPHILES AND THEIR AGGREGATION BEHAVIOR IN WATER .1. THE CONTACT PREPARATION METHOD AS A TOOL FOR EMPIRICAL-STUDIES, Recueil des travaux chimiques des Pays-Bas, 113(4), 1994, pp. 260-265
The lyotropic liquid-crystalline behaviour of several dozens of (nonio
nic) polyhydroxy amphiphiles was studied by observing the penetration
of water into the bulk of a sample of amphiphile on a microscope slide
and identifying the mesophases observed at the interface with the aqu
eous solution. The compounds were plotted as a function of the total n
umber of hydroxyl and carbonyl groups vs. the total number of carbon a
toms in the (hydrophobic) alkyl chain(s). The symbol used for each com
pound was chosen to indicate the mesophase observed. In this manner, a
clear picture emerged of the relationship between overall molecular s
tructure and type of lyotropic phase(s) formed. Based on this plot it
becomes possible to predict the type of lyotropic phase that will be f
ormed at the amphiphile-water interface. Lyotropic mesophases are gene
rally considered to be built up from the aggregates found in dilute aq
ueous solution. Therefore, a contact preparation also constitutes a si
mple test for the prediction of the type of aggregate an amphiphile wi
ll form in dilute aqueous solution. A useful tool for the design of ne
w surfactants is thus provided.