A Unique Ionic Liquid with Amphiphilic Properties that Can Form Reverse Micelles and Spontaneous Unilamellar Vesicles.

VILLA C.C.; MOYANO F.; CEOLIN, M.; SILBER J. J.; FALCONE R.D.; CORREA N.M*

CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

Año: 2012

0947-6539

The aim of this work is to synthesize a new IL with amphiphilic properties made by the combination of two very well-known ionic surfactants, AOT and BHDC, where the counterions Cl- and Na+ are removed giving genesis to the new molecule AOT-BHD (Scheme 1). This IL surfactant was isolated from the original surfactant mixture and shows properties absolutely different from AOT and BHDC. We have investigated its ability to form RMs in nonpolar solvents and spontaneous LUVs in water and, the results demonstrate that this unique surfactant can form both different organized systems depending on the solvent used. We clearly demonstrate the formation of RMs in benzene and LUVs (that form spontaneously without the help of any mechanical or chemical methods) in water by using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques.