Self‐organizing systems based on amphiphilic cyclodextrin diesters

The formation of micelles, vesicles and monomolecular layers by amphiphilic cyclodextrins possessing hydrophobic ester groups on the secondary hydroxyl face is described. The physico‐chemical properties of these self‐organizing systems were studied by dynamic light scattering, variable‐temperature 1 H NMR, the use of lanthanide shift reagents, deposition of Langmuir layers, variable‐temperature solubility measurements and aqueous and non‐aqueous surface tension activity measurements. The results are interpreted in terms of the cylindrical geometry of the compounds which, coupled with the presence of a large planar polar head group, lead to the formation of self‐organized systems both in polar organic solvents and also at the air–water interface.