CHIRAL DISCRIMINATION IN LANGMUIR MONOLAYERS OF N-EICOSANOYLPROLINE METHYL-ESTER

Monolayers of chiral (L) and of racemic N-eicosanoylproline methyl eat er have been investigated using surface pressure isotherm measurements and Brewster angle microscopy. The surface pressure isotherms indicat e differences between the chiral and racemic monolayers; however, the differences appear somewhat smaller than those previously observed for monolayers of other N-acylamino acids capable of amide-amide hydrogen bonding. The surface pressure isotherms exhibit hysteresis during com pression-expansion cycles. The domains formed on compression of both t he racemic and chiral monolayers are small and irregular, in contrast to the dendritic or curved domains previously observed for monolayers of N-acylamino acids capable of amide-amide hydrogen bonding.