Alkyl Derivatives of Iminodiacetic Acid: A Novel Class of Compounds Forming Thermotropic Liquid Crystals and Aqueous Micelles

Abstract

In the present study the liquid crystalline character of some long chain-alkyl iminodiacetic acid derivatives have been established by optical microscopy and DSC studies. Mesomorphic textures were attributed to the formation of alternating polar and lipophilic lamellar structures. In addition the micellar properties of dipotassium salts of the iminodiacetic acids were investigated by electroconductometry and fluorescence spectroscopy and it was found that the CMC ranges between 0.022 and 0.0012, M aggregation numbers 60–94, and that the micelles have a loose structure that allows considerable water penetration in their palisade region.