Chemistry Letters, Vol.37, No.1, 56-57, 2008
Infrared spectroscopic study of molecular fastening by mechanical compression in an elastic film
An amphiphilic compound that has a consecutive hexaleucine array (Leu-6) was designed to have molecular interaction via hydrogen bonding between the hexaleucinate moieties, and also have molecular interdigitation mechanism named "leucine fastener" at the same moieties, which is expected to help the molecular network formation more rigid. In the present study, the leucine fastener has been obtained by a simple hydraulic press of a bulk Leu-6 solid. The elastic film thus obtained exhibited a characteristic infrared marker band at 2985 cm(-1), which has proved the leucine fastener formation.