TELOMERS AND COTELOMERS OF BIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL SIGNIFICANCE .5. SOLUBILIZING PROPERTIES OF TELOMER DERIVATIVES OF TRIS(HYDROXYMETHYL)ACRYLAMIDOMETHANE

Telomers derived from tris-(hydroxymethyl)-acrylamidomethane, with either a hydrocarbon or a fluorocarbon hydrophobic tail, were investigated with respect to their ability to solubilize highly hydrophobic substrates in water. The solubilizing power was shown to be strongly dependent on both the nature and size of the hydrophobic terminus. Fluorinated surfactants proved better than their hydrocarbon analogues for dissolving solutes that are preferentially localized in the polar layer of the micelle. Conversely, hydrocarbon amphiphilic telomers are better solubilizing agents than fluorinated derivatives for compounds which are localized in the hydrophobic core of the micelle.