Monolayer Studies of Chiral and Racemic 12-Hydroxyoctadecanoic Acids

Abstract

The monolayer properties of chiral and racemic 12-hydroxyoctadecanoic acids (12HOA) have been studied. Both acids showed, in each pressure-area isotherm, a pressure plateau. This was interpreted as a two-dimensional phase transition region: from the expanded monolayer composed of bent chain molecules with both the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups attached to the water surface, to the condensed monolayer composed of straight chain molecules oriented steeply to the water surface. It was suggested by measuring infrared spectra of the collapsed films and the built-up films that the condensed monolayer involves intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Differences between (R)- and dl-12HOA were found in the plateau pressure and its temperature dependence leading to the transition energy. These results were attributed to the formation of a recemic molecular compound during condensation of monolayers of dl-12HOA, prior to collapse, followed by a different manner of hydrogen bonding. Electron microscope observation gave strong evidence for the two-dimensional racemic compound formation. On the basis of these results and the X-ray diffraction data, molecular packing models in the condensed monolayers were proposed.