Abstract

Two molecular Janus particles based on amphiphilic [60]fullerene (C60) derivatives were designed and synthesized by using the regioselective Bingel–Hirsh reaction and the click reaction. These particles contain carboxylic acid functional groups, a hydrophilic fullerene (AC60), and a hydrophobic C60 in different ratios and have distinct molecular architectures: 1:1 (AC60–C60) and 1:2 (AC60–2C60). These molecular Janus particles can self-assemble in solution to form aggregates with various types of micellar morphology. Whereas vesicular morphology was observed for both AC60–C60 and AC60–2C60 in tetrahydrofuran, in a mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)/water, spherical micelles and cylindrical micelles were observed for AC60–C60 and AC60–2C60, respectively. A mechanism of formation was tentatively proposed based on the effects of molecular architecture and solvent polarity on self-assembly.