Amidophenol-modified amphiphilic calixarenes: synthesis, interfacial self-assembly, and acetaminophen crystal nucleation properties

Langmuir. 2011 Aug 2;27(15):9116-21. doi: 10.1021/la201629a. Epub 2011 Jun 30.

Abstract

Three amidophenol-modified calixarenes have been produced reacting the parent 5,11,17,23-tetracarboxy-25,26,27,28-tetradodecyloxycalix[4]arene with o-, m-, and p-aminophenol. The produced amphiphiles have been shown to form stable monomolecular Langmuir layers on water. Working on subphases containing 1 mM acetaminophen (APAP), it has been demonstrated that the produced amphiphiles interact with this active pharmaceutically ingredient (API) with a relevant preference for the para-derivative that possesses in its structure substituents that are analogous to the target. Working at supersaturating concentrations of APAP, it has been demonstrated that the so-produced calixarene Langmuir monolayers do favor crystallization of APAP (polymorph I), with a clear effect of the packing density of the amphiphile at the interface on the quantity of produced crystals. Monolayers of the para-derivative have been transferred on solid substrates using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique; the so-produced ultrathin films have been shown to initiate surface crystal nucleation of APAP. The produced solids have been analyzed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and shown to preferentially grow in the [010] direction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / chemistry*
  • Air
  • Calixarenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Calixarenes / chemistry*
  • Crystallization
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Particle Size
  • Phenols / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Surface Properties
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Phenols
  • Water
  • Calixarenes
  • Acetaminophen