Surface tension and conductance measurements on tetradecylpyridinium nitrate and hexadecylpyridinium bromide and diffusive interfacial transport experiments on dihexadecyldimethylammonium acetate in 3-methylsydnone are reported. 3-Methylsydnone is aprotic, possesses a high dielectric constant (144 at 40 °C), and has a high cohesive energy density. Unlike hydrogen-bonding solvents of comparable polarity, no evidence for association colloid behavior is detected in 3-methylsydnone. These results confirm previous inferences that hydrogen bonding is a prerequisite for amphiphilic self-assembly.

ChemInform Abstract In contrast to H-bonding solvents with comparable polarity (such as formamide) no association is observed for (I) (surface tension, conductance measurements) or (II) (diffusive interfacial transport experiments) in the aprotic title solvents. (IR).