Switchable Supramolecular Organization of Structurally Defined Micelles Based on an Amphiphilic Fullerene

Exactly eight amphiphilic fullerene dendrimer molecules form a globular micelle spontaneously in aqueous solution. This supramolecular organization can be turned on and off by an external stimulus (pH). Owing to the remarkable structure persistence of the micelles, their three-dimensional structure could be determined from cryogenic transmission electron micrographic images and the molecular architecture was subsequently modeled (see picture).