Solvophobic effects in the self-assembly of triangular-shape amphiphilic oligo(phenylene ethynylenes).

Triangular-shape OPEs, decorated in their periphery with a variable number of hydrophilic and hydrophobic substituents, have been synthesized to evaluate the influence of the solvent-solute and solute-solute interactions involved in their self-association. The similar size and electronic properties for these radial OPEs allow a direct evaluation of the solvophobic component of the pi-pi stacking since any preferential Coulombic or dispersion effect can be discarded. In addition, the formation of aggregates in solution is efficiently transferred to surfaces and the formation of hollow vesicles can be observed.