Translational Diffusion and Other Physicochemical Properties of a Bolaform Surfactant in Solution

Some physicochemical properties of a synthetic amphiphilic molecule having as polar heads two azacrown ethers, joined to both ends of a C 16 alkyl chain, have been investigated. According to experimental evidence by self-diffusion, viscosity, and surface tension trends, as well as to information arising from the phase diagram, such an α−ω compound forms large aggregates, presumably vesicles, and exhibit's consolute phenomena. Its behavior can be considered intermediate between that of vesicle-forming lipids and that of nonionic surfactants.