Synthesis and assembly properties of a series of chiral amphiphilic dihydroxytetrahydrofuran derivatives

The synthesis of a series of amphiphilic dihydroxytetrahydrofuran derivativ es, prepared from isomannide and isosorbide, possessing hydrophobic ether c hains lengths varying from C-10 to C-18 attached ct to the tetrahydrofuran ring and with R and S chirality at the 0 linkage carbon atom is described. The interfacial properties of these compounds were studied using a Langmuir film balance; the results showed the expected increase in film stability w ith increasing chain length and differences in phase behaviour and film sta bility related to linkage chirality. The formation of colloidal dispersions of these compounds was studied both dynamic light scattering and non-conta ct mode atomic force microscopy. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.