Design and Cavity Functions of Emergent Micelles Composed of Bent Amphiphiles

Covalent connection of two different frameworks generates new molecules, displaying unique self-assembled structures and properties. The representative is a linear amphiphile, bearing an alkyl chain and an ionic head, which forms a spherical assembly, so-called micelle, in water. This review describes our recent progress on bent amphiphiles for the development of new functional micelles. On the basis of our previous studies using anthracene and pentamethylbenzene panels, we prepared novel aromatic and cycloalkane micelles in water, by the rational design of bent amphiphiles, providing hetero-aromatic panels (i.e., phenothiazine and carbazole), cycloalkyl groups (i.e., cyclohexane and adamantane), organometallic units (i.e., ferrocene), and chiral frameworks (i.e., terpene and binaphthyl) as the hydrophobic part. Our previous and present micelles exhibited characteristic host functions, through efficient encapsulation of metal-complexes (i.e., M＝Pt, Ni, and PdAu), polyacenes, and axially chiral compounds in water. The micelle structures and properties could be altered by external stimuli with/without guest molecules. In addition, efficient chiroptical induction of achiral organic and metal-complex dyes was demonstrated within the chiral micelles in water.