Well-defined aqueous nanoassemblies from amphiphilic -terphenyls and their guest incorporation.

Spherical molecular assemblies with diameters of ∼2 nm were quantitatively formed in water from new amphiphilic -terphenyls with two hydrophilic pendants at the central benzene ring. Whereas intermolecular interactions between small aromatic rings are typically weak, the obtained nanoassemblies are stable enough at wide-ranging concentrations and mostly remain intact even in the presence of similar nanoassemblies with polyaromatic frameworks. The nanoassembly with pentamethyl-substituted terminal benzene rings provides superior host capability for fluorescent dyes in water.