Abstract
The solution behavior of five α-monoalkyl glyceryl ethers with different chemical structures in water was investigated by a polarizing microscopic technique, differential scanning calorimetry, and electric conductivity measurements and binary phase diagrams of these alkyl glyceryl ethers and water were obtained. α-Monoalkyl glyceryl ethers comprised mainly of linear alkyl chains as the hydrophobic moiety formed liquid crystalline phases including neat and reversed middle phases for a wider range of concentrations of water and temperature. α-Monoalkyl glyceryl ethers with sterically bulky hydrophobic parts such as branched alkyl chains which hinder aggregation of molecules formed no mesomorphic phases and no mutual interaction between water and glyceryl ether was observed. The solution behavior of α-monoalkyl glyceryl ether differed from that of 1-monoalkyl glyceride, although they have similar molecular structures. This difference was observed in the liquid crystalline phases possibly attributable to the greater hydrophobicity of the α-monoalkyl glyceryl ether.
