THE ROLE OF MACROCYCLIC LIGANDS IN THE STRUCTURE OF LDS MICELLAR SOLUTIONS

We have studied the effect of macrocyclic ligands on the aggregation b ehavior of lithium dodecyl sulfate (LDS) micellar solutions. Two diffe rent classes of macrocyclic compounds are investigated: crown-ethers a nd cryptands. We show that macrocyclic ligands solubilize at the micel lar surface by decreasing the micellar surface charge and the micellar aggregation number and increasing the thickness of the micellar polar head group region. These effects are dependent on the shape and size of the macrocyclic ligand.