An amphiphilic C-60-derivative, AFE, characterized by the presence of the c
hiral fragment Of L-acetyl carnitine in its hydrophilic appendage has been
synthesized. In binary (THF/H2O) and ternary (THF/MeOH/H2O) solutions, AFE
exhibits a strong tendency to self-aggregation, provided that the Hildebran
d polarity index, delta, of the solvent is higher than about 15. A stable a
queous solution of aggregated AFE was obtained. Partition experiments betwe
en n-octanol and water show that AFE cannot be spontaneously transferred fr
om water into the organic solvent (and vice versa), although it is effectiv
ely "salted-out" by common electrolytes. Light scattering and reversed-phas
e liquid chromatography experiments carried out on the aqueous solution of
AFE suggest for the aggregates an average diameter of 120 nm.