SYNTHESIS, AQUEOUS-SOLUTION BEHAVIOR AND AMPHOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE PROPERTIES OF GLYCEROL BASED BOLAAMPHIPHILES

Two new homologous series of new single-chain diether bolaamphiphiles with glycerol headgroups have been synthesized: 1,1'-O-(alkane-alpha,o mega-diyl)bis(rac-glycerol), 1, and 2,2'-O-(alkane-alpha,omega-diyl)bi s(glycerol), 2, bearing 10 to 22 methylene groups (n). They were studi ed by surface tension measurements, microscopies and X-ray diffraction patterns. From the set of molecules 1, we have shown the formation of amphotropic liquid crystals. A lamellar L-alpha phase has been identi fied at high temperature while a more complex second phase was detecte d at low temperature. In this case, the texture is also characteristic of a lamellar phase (L-beta') and its organization was found to be mo noclinic by X-ray analysis. Furthermore, these compounds led to multil amellar vesicles in aqueous solution (liposomes) with the flexibility depending on temperature.