Self-assembly of symmetrical and dissymmetrical dicationic surfactants in the solid phase and in solution

The effect of the spacer structure (linear, cyclic, bicyclic) and dissymmetry of alkyl fragment in a series of dicationic gemini surfactants on the ability to form thermotropic liquid crystals and on the micellar properties was studied. Transitions crystal-thermotropic liquid crystals-isotropic solution were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The self-diffusion coefficients of micelles and monomers of the dicationic dialkyl derivatives of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane in water were determined by pulsed field gradient NMR spectroscopy. The effect of the surfactant structure on the values of critical micelle concentrations, hydrodynamic radii, and aggregation numbers of micelles was analyzed.