Structure and orientation of small molecules dissolved in the liquid crystalline phases of CsPFO/water system by multinuclear NMR

Abstract

Pyridine, L-alanine and L-phenylalanine dissolved in the liquid crystalline phases of the lyotropic system CsPFO/water are studied by means of ²H, ¹³C and ¹H NMR. The orientational order parameters of the solutes are determined in a wide temperature range, together with some relevant geometrical parameters. In particular, a prevailing conformation for L-phenylalanine interacting with the micelle is suggested and, for all solutes, convincing representations of their specific interactions with the micelle surface are inferred. From ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR spectra in the nematic phase, the orientational order parameters for the perfluorooctanoate chain inside the micelles are estimated.