Ultrathin monolayer lipid membranes from a new family of crown ether-based bola-amphiphiles

Twelve novel α,Ω-bis(N-azacrown ether) compounds have been prepared, characterized, and converted into a previously unknown type of niosome. Four are bis(15-crown-5) derivatives having the following spacer chains: (CH 2 ) 12 (1), (CH 2 ) 16 (2), CO(CH 2 ) 20 CO (3), and (CH 2 ) 22 (4)