Design and Syntheses of Amphicharged Bolaamphiphilic Molecules from L‐Lysine and L‐Glutamic Acid

Abstract A new class of amphicharged bolaamphiphilic molecules is reported here, which contain cationic and anionic head groups derived from lysine and glutamic acids, respectively. The molecules are categorized into three sets based on the number and nature of charges on the head groups and on the length of the hydrophobic chain connecting the head groups. Set 1 contains three molecules, each having two amino groups on one end and two carboxylic acids on the other, but with different alkyl chains connecting the two head groups. In set 2, one of the head groups has two amino groups, while the other has 4 carboxylic acid groups and the chain length of the connector is either 6 or 12 carbon atoms. In set 3, the charges on the head groups are reversed by placing 4 amino groups on one of the head groups and two carboxylic acids on the other. It is found that the CMC of these compounds decreased with an increase in the length of the aliphatic chain connecting the head groups and with an increase in the number of cationic and anionic units in the head groups.