[12]Annulene Gemini Surfactants: Structure and Self‐Assembly

The long and short of it: Gemini surfactants with a non-Hückel diaza[12]annulene core have been synthesized (see picture). DFT computations give a minimum-energy conformation with alternate shorter and longer bonds, and with the two N substituents pointing away from each other. Studies on the aggregation of the molecules in water show they encounter packing difficulties, with no evidence for ring/ring interactions at the micelle surfaces.