Chiral micellar porphyrin fibers with 2-aminoglycosamide head groups

Easily accessible protoporphyrin IX 13,17-bis(glycosamides) form colloidal aqueous solutions which are stable for several months or longer. Electron micrographs show ribbons of an approximate width of 4 nm and lengths of between 20 nm (D-glucosamide) and 5 mu m (D,L-mannosamide). In one case, gel chromatography was applied in order to acquire the molecular weight, which was determined to be greater than or equal to 2 x 10 super(6) D for about 90% of the colloidal particles.