Compounds that associate on the intermolecular level and aggregate bodies that contain them

Compound of the general formula (I) X(B)m (I) wherein X is an m-valent unit and B are identical or different and denote K-R, wherein K is a bond or is A1-(A2-A3)k-sp, wherein A1 is (CH2)tY(CH2)u, wherein Y is >C-O, >NH, -O-, -S- or a bond, t is an integer from 0 to 6 and u is an integer from 0 to 6, A2 is -NHCO-, -CONH-, -OCONH- or SCONH-, or is -CO-, A3 is (CH2)r, O(CH2)r, NH(CH2)r, S(CH2)r or -(CHQ)-, wherein r is an integer from 1 to 6 and Q is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl group, sp is a divalent spacer or a bond, and k is an integer from 5 to 100, and R is hydrogen; a ligand suitable for specific bonding to a receptor; a marker molecule; or a catalytically active group; and m is at least 2, with the proviso that (1) in the compound at least one R is not hydrogen, (2) there are at least two K that are not a bond, and (3) X, B and m are so selected that an intermolecular association of the K in liquid phase by the formation of hydrogen bonds is possible, with formation of aggregates that present on the surface a plurality of R that are not hydrogen, and (4) the molar mass of the fragment X(K)m is less than 20,000.