New poly(phenyleneethynylene)s with cationic, facially amphiphilic structures

Polymers based on meta substituted phenylene ethylene are prepared with patterned polar and nonpolar groups to favor an extended conformation. These polymers were characterized at the air-water interface by Langmuir techniques and found to form stable monolayers with an extended conformation based on molecular models. In addition, these polymers show phospholipid membrane activity as measured by induced leakage of calcein from large unilamellar vesicles. These polymers represent new facially amphiphilic structures which are cationic in nature and surface active. Copyright © 2002 American Chemical Society.