Thermotropic-like Character and Vesicular Aggregation of N, N' Didodecyl Succinamic and Maleamic Acids

Abstract

In the present study the synthesis is reported of two novel compounds, i.e. N,N' didodecyl succinamic and maleamic acids, that exhibit thermotropic-like properties and form vesicles in aqueous media. Thermotropic character, which was shown by optical and differential scanning calorimetric studies, was attributed to a lamellar structure whose thickness must be equal to the length of the dimers formed through hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic groups of the compounds. Vesicle formation was established by electron microscopy and rationalized with the structure of the molecules which have a characteristic double long chain lipophilic portion coupled to a polar group.