Aggregate structures of asymmetric di-alkyl phosphate anions and the role of conformations about the polar region: SANS, cryo-TEM, Raman scattering, 13C NMR, and selective NOE studies

J Phys Chem B. 2012 Mar 22;116(11):3538-50. doi: 10.1021/jp300019n. Epub 2012 Mar 14.

Abstract

The aggregate structures of two di-n-alkyl-phosphate anions (di-n-alkyl: n-butyl(n-dodecyl)(BDoP) and n-hexyl(n-dodecyl)(HDoP)) in water were studied by the use of SANS, cryo-TEM, Raman scattering, (13)C NMR, and selective NOE ((1)H{(1)H}) techniques. The results of SANS indicated that the different -CH(2)- lengths of the short chain led to a marked difference in the aggregational behavior of BDoP and HDoP. Cryo-TEM added direct images to support the average aggregation size and shape predicted by the SANS analyses. Raman scattering, (13)C NMR, and selective NOE results provided further evidence that variation of molecular conformations strongly contributed to variation in the shape of the aggregates. In particular, selective NOE was a powerful technique for investigating the dynamic structures of the hydrocarbon chains during growth of the micelles.

MeSH terms

  • Anions
  • Carbon Isotopes / chemistry
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Micelles
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Neutron Diffraction
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemistry*
  • Phosphates / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Thermodynamics
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Anions
  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Micelles
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Phosphates
  • n-butyl(n-dodecyl)phosphate
  • n-hexyl(n-dodecyl)phosphate
  • Water