Reversible vesicles based on one and two head supramolecular cyclodextrin amphiphile induced by methanol Original Research Article

Reversible vesicles based on supramolecular inclusion of hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HPβCD) and N,N′-bis(ferrocenylmethylene)-diaminohexane (BFD) were prepared in water and methanol–water mixtures. The inclusion stoichiometry of HPβCD with BFD was in a molar ratio of 2:1, which could be named as ‘two head’ supramolecular amphiphile when the solvent was water. However, the inclusion stoichiometry of HPβCD with BFD would tend to be a molar ratio of 1:1 based on introduction of methanol to the solvent, especially when the volume ratio of methanol and water was more than 1:4, which could be named as ‘one head’ supramolecular amphiphile. The inclusion compounds could switch between ‘one head’ and ‘two head’ conformations by changing the methanol concentration of the solvents. The vesicles were also found to be responsive to the stimulus of external molecules. When the inclusion ability between HPβCD and an external guest was relatively stronger, the vesicles were easily destroyed. Furthermore, the vesicles disappeared after adding an oxidizing agent. NMR was used to confirm the conformation of the mixture of HPβCD and BFD in water. The structure and morphology of the vesicles were characterized by TEM and DLS. The vesicles may be used in smart materials, drug delivery and molecular recognition.