FORMATION OF STABLE MONOLAYER MEMBRANES AND RELATED STRUCTURES IN DILUTE AQUEOUS-SOLUTION FROM 2-HEADED AMMONIUM AMPHIPHILES

Two-headed, single-chain ammonium amphiphiles in which the hydrophobic chain was made of the flexible decamethylene unit and the rigid diphenylazomethine or biphenyl unit were synthesized. These amphiphiles produced huge (106107daltons) aggregates in dilute aqueous solution. The basic structure of the aggregates was shown by electron microscopy to be the monolayer membrane. A rod-like structure resulted, when the flexible moiety increased. Addition of second components drastically changed the aggregate structure. For instance, rigid lamellae were converted to large single-walled vesicles by incorporation of cholesterol. The present finding is the first example of the formation of stable monolayer membranes. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.