Polycondensation of Long-Chain Esters of α-Amino Acids in Monolayers at Air/Water Interface and in Multilayers on Solid Surface

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Abstract
Polycondensations of long-chain esters of glycine and alanine in the monolayers spread at air/water interface and in the multilayers deposited on solid surface have been investigated by surface viscosity and IR spectra. These compounds form stable monolayers on neutral and alkaline subphases. The polycondensation can occur rather quickly in the monolayers at room temperature without any catalyst or initiator. The polymerization rate is markedly influenced by the area per molecule and the maximum polymerizability is obtained at the area somewhat larger than the condensed region. Furthermore, polymerizability in the multilayer prepared by Blodgett's technique is superior to those in the bulk powder at the same temperature and in the molten state at higher temperature. These results lead to the conclusion that the polycondensation is accelerated by the regular arrangement of the monomer molecules at the interface, where the functional groups are concentrated and situated most effectively for the reaction. Two probable mechanisms for the polycondensation of the long-chain esters of α-amino acids in the Y-type multilayer have been proposed.