Hierarchical Structures Formed by Flexible Dendrimeric Molecules Based on Gallic Acid

Behavior of first-generation dendrons based on gallic acid is found to be strongly dependent on the number of terminal alkyl chains attached to the outer phenyl rings; only molecules having three alkyl chains per phenyl ring are mesogenic. Due to the hydrogen bonding, they form micelles that are arranged into cubic Pm3n structure. The cubic phase is also found for dimeric and trimeric gallic ester analogues; it is shown that the size of the crystallographic unit cell correlates with the isotropization temperature, apparently small micelles with high density of alkyl chains at the micelle surface interact more strongly stabilizing the cubic phase. Also behavior of gallic acid dendrons in solution is defined by the number of terminal chains, formation of either large liposomes or gel is observed.