Amphiphilic molecular gels from omega-aminoalkylated L-glutamic acid derivatives with unique chiroptical properties.

Self-assembling amphiphiles with unique chiroptical properties were derived from L-glutamic acid through omega-aminoalkylation and double long-chain alkylation. These amphiphiles can disperse in various solvents ranging from water to n-hexane. TEM and SEM observations indicate that the improvement in dispersity is induced by the formation of tubular and/or fibrillar aggregates with nanosized diameters, which makes these amphiphiles similar to aqueous lipid membrane systems.