Head group controlled specific interactions of aliphatic- and aromatic-polyester dendrimers with cationic surfactants of identical hydrophobic tails

The conductivity (κ), turbidity (τ), and 1H NMR measurements have been carried out to understand cationic surfactants viz. HPyBr, HPyCl, and HTAB interactions with aliphatic polyester (AL-PE) and aromatic polyester (AR-PE) dendrimers. Both κ and τ studies have demonstrated strong interactions between HPyBr and AL-PE or AR-PE. 1H NMR measurements have shown that specific interactions between cationic pyridinium head groups and ester oxygens are responsible for stronger association of HPyBr with both dendrimers. No significant interactions between HTAB and dendrimers have been observed from NMR studies.