Synthesis and properties of a poly-bolyte

A "poly-bolyte" containing 11 C-22 chains interconnected by 10 catechol uni ts possessing water-solublizing sulfonate groups was synthesized and studie d for its solubility, surface activity, dye adsorption, NMR, dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, calorimetry, and effect on phospholipid bi layers. The amphiphile was not surface active, formed polydisperse vesicles at low concentrations, and did not disrupt phospholipid vesicles, in contr ast to a conventional monomeric surfactant of similar structure. The polybo lyte is one of a growing number of examples whereby synthetic chemistry is expanding the scope of colloid chemistry.