Molecular bilayer-based superstructures of a fullerene-carrying ammonium amphiphile: structure and electrochemistry

Chemistry. 2001 Apr 17;7(8):1766-72. doi: 10.1002/1521-3765(20010417)7:8<1766::aid-chem17660>3.0.co;2-f.

Abstract

The synthesis of a water-soluble C60-carrying single-chain ammonium amphiphile, 10- (N-methyl-2-fulleropyrrolidyl)decyltrimethylammonium bromide (1) as well as the characterization of aqueous solutions and cast films of 1 are described. X-ray diffraction study suggests that cast films of 1 form a multilayer structure based on biomembrane-like molecular bilayers. Electron microscopy has revealed that 1 produces both fibrous and disk-like aggregates with 10-12 nm of thickness through self-organization of 1 in aqueous solution. Differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, FTIR, and UV-visible absorption studies were also carried out to characterize aqueous solutions and cast films of 1. Electrochemistry for an aqueous solution and for cast films of just 1 and 1 incorporated in lipid films on electrodes was conducted. It was found that films of just 1 and of 1/lipid cast on electrodes showed electron transfer reactions leading to the generation of the fullerene dianion or trianion. In contrast, electrochemistry of aqueous solution of 1 at a bare electrode gives a cathodic current near -0.5 to -0.6 V against SCE; however, an anodic current for the solution did not appear.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electron Transport
  • Fullerenes*
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pyrrolidines / chemical synthesis*
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / chemistry
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*

Substances

  • 10-(N-methyl-2-fulleropyrrolidyl)decyltrimethylammonium bromide
  • Fullerenes
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Pyrrolidines
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Carbon
  • fullerene C60