Synthesis of a hemifluorinated amphiphile designed for self-assembly and two-dimensional crystallization of membrane protein

The work reported herein deals with the synthesis and the preliminary physical–chemical analysis of new hemifluorinated surfactant made up of one fluorinated chain linked to a tricarboxylic acid polar head which is able to complex a Ni atom and should favor the two-dimensional crystallization of membrane proteins. Such a compound forms a Langmuir film which is a fluid at 20 °C and not perturbed by the presence of hydrocarbon detergent in aqueous solution.