Synthesis and studies on surface and self-assembly properties of polyphenylsulfonates in aqueous solution. Part 1: sodium 5′-phenyl-1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl-4-sulfonate

Abstract

The title compound represents an unexplored class of amphiphiles. Their hydrophobic moiety is solely aromatic and consists of an uncondensed polyphenyl system. Micellization of such amphiphiles in aqueous solutions should lead to assemblies with a unique structural feature in that the core of the micelle would consist of a non-rigid system of arenic hydrocarbons. Results of surface tension measurements, at 25 °C, of solutions of the studied salt suggest that association occurs already at the concentration of ca. 1 × 10^–3 mol dm^–3 in pure water and 4 × 10^–5 mol dm^–3 in 0.02 mol dm^–3 NaCl. The solubility of the salt in water increases exponentially with temperature. Results of vapour pressure osmometry obtained at 45 and 60 °C confirm extensive selfassembly processes in aqueous solutions of the salt.