Synthesis, supramolecular organization and thermotropic phase behaviour of N-acyltris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane.

Herein, we reported the supramolecular organization of N-acyltris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (NATM) in the solid state as well as in aqueous solution. Single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that NATM adopts a fully interdigitized structure. The thermodynamic parameters associated with thermotropic phase behaviour of NATM was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The molecular packing and phase state of the NATM analyzed by laurdan and prodan fluorescence supports the formation of an interdigitized phase in aqueous solution. The potential application of the self-assembled NATM vesicles was demonstrated through entrapping model drug, Rhodamine B.