Liquid chromatographic–electrospray mass spectrometric study of the phthalides of Angelica sinensis and chemical changes of Z-ligustilide

High-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry has been applied to analyze the chemical constituents of Danggui (the rhizome of Angelica sinensis) and to study chemical changes of Z-ligustilide. Twelve phthalides were unambiguously identified as senkyunolide I (3), senkyunolide H (4), sedanenolide (8), butylphthalide (9), E-ligustilide (13), Z-ligustilide (14), Z-butylidenephthalide (15), Z,Z′-6.8′,7.3′-diligustilide (16), angelicide (17), levistolide A (18), Z-ligustilide dimer E-232 (19) and Z,Z′-3.3′,8.8′-diligustilide (20) in Danggui extract. The existence of 12 other phthalides (2, 5–7, 11, 12, 22–27), ferulic acid (1) and coniferyl ferulate (10) in Danggui extract has also been demonstrated. Phthalides 3, 4, 16–18 and 20 were determined to be the products from chemical change of Z-ligustilide. This is the first report of the existence of 16 compounds (2–8, 10–12, 20, 22–25 and 27) in Danggui extract.     

Ab initio studies of the conformations of ethynyl formate, cyano formate and related ethynyl and cyano compounds

The optimized geometries, relative free energies and related thermodynamic properties, harmonic frequencies, and dipole moments have been calculated at the HF and MP2 levels for ethynyl formate (1a), ethynyl acetate (1b), cyano formate, HCO₂CN (1c), cyano acetate (1d), S-ethynyl thioformate (2a), S-ethynyl thioacetate (2b), S-cyano thioformate (2c), S-cyano thioacetate (2d), N-ethynylformamide (3a), N-ethynylacetamide (3b), N-cyanoformamide (3c), and N-cyanoacetamide (3d) with the gaussian 98 program. For ethynyl formate, the calculation for 25 °C at the MP2/6-311++G(df,pd) level predicts that the Z isomer is more stable by 1.23 kcal/mol. For S-ethynyl thioformate, calculations at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level predict that the E isomer is favored by 0.71 kcal/mol at 25 °C. The E isomers of N-ethynylformamide and N-ethynylacetamide were found at all levels to be more stable than the Z isomers at 25 °C. For cyano formate and cyano acetate, calculations at the MP2/6-311++G(df,pd) level predict that the Z isomers are more stable at 25 °C by 1.50 and 2.72 kcal/mol, respectively. At this level and temperature, the Z isomers of 2c, 2d, 3c, and 3d are predicted to have free energies of 0.46, −0.07, 1.22, and 2.28 kcal/mol, respectively, relative to the E conformations. Z to E free-energy barriers at 25 °C of 8.63, 10.64, 17.63, 7.39, and 14.03 kcal/mol were calculated for 1a, 2a, 3a, 1c, and 3c at the HF/6-311G(d,p) level, and at the HF/6-311+G(d,p) level, the free-energy barrier for 2c was 7.08 kcal/mol.     

Evidence for two light-induced metastable states in Cl3[Ru(NH3)5NO]H2O

Differential Scanning Calorimetry measurements on irradiated Cl₃[Ru(NH₃)₅NO]H₂O reveal the existence of two light-induced long-lived metastable states SI, SII. Irradiation with light in the spectral range 400–500 nm leads to the excitation of SI. For the first time we report experimental evidence for the state SII in this compound, which can be excited by transferring SI into SII with irradiation of light in the spectral range 1000–1200 nm. The excitation and transfer of the metastable states is described and the exponential decays are evaluated according to Arrhenius' law yielding activation energies of E_A(SI)=0.73(3) eV, E_A(SII)=0.66(3) eV and frequency factors of Z(SI)=1 × 10¹² s⁻¹, Z(SII) = 5 × 10¹² s⁻¹.     

Chemical composition of the volatile oil from Cynanchum stauntonii and its activities of anti-influenza virus

The volatile oil of the roots of Cynanchum stauntonii was examined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Thirty-eight constituents were identified. (E,E)-2,4-Decadienal, 3-efhyl-4-methypentanol, 5-pentyl-3H-furan-2-one, (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal and 2(3H)-furanone,dihydro-5-pentyl were found to be the major components. The volatile oil exhibited the activities against influenza virus in vitro (IC₅₀s = 64 μg/ml). In in vivo experiment, it prevented influenza virus-induced deaths in a dose-dependent manner.     

通过增强电荷转移激发态构建激发态下稳定的基于氰基二苯乙烯的E/Z构型

The E/Z isomerization reaction is found extensively in most organic molecules containing double bond unit. This limits their practical application as luminescent materials partly, especially under photoirradiation. Therefore, it is important to obtain E/Z isomers with stable configuration in the excited state after photoirradiation. It is well known that cyanostilbene and its analogues play an important role in the development of organic opto/electronic materials. The substituted cyano group on C＝C double bonds has strong electron-withdrawing ability and large steric hindrance, which benefits the formation of donor-acceptor (D-A) structures and formation of intramolecular charge transfer. In our previous work, we reported a triphenylamine-cyanostilbene molecule (TPNCF) formed by modifying the cyanostilbene structure with triphenylamine, which maintained a stable E/Z configuration as a film and in high polar solvents. According to solvatochromism mechanisms and the results of theoretical calculations, we proposed that the charge transfer (CT) excited state between the triphenylamine donor and cyanostilbene acceptor groups induced the stable configuration of the E- and Z- isomers under photoirradiation. Under irradiation, the E/Z isomerization process occurring at a higher energy locally excited (LE) state was suppressed by a rapid internal conversion process from the LE to CT state. This work inspired us to provide a universal and effective molecular design strategy by modifying D-A substituents on double bonds that can successfully stabilize E/Z isomers. To further confirm that the CT excited state induced stable E- and Z- isomers in the cyanostilbene structure under photoirradiation, we designed and synthesized a donor-acceptor phenoxazine-cyanostilbene molecule (PZNCF) and successfully characterized its two E/Z isomers. In comparison with the reported TPNCF molecule, the in-situ NMR and UV spectra of E- and Z- isomers of PZNCF demonstrated that the E/Z isomerization rate became slower under photoirradiation, which indicated that the stronger electron-donating group of phenoxazine substituted in the cyanostilbene structure induced a more stable E/Z isomer configuration in its excited state. DFT calculations and photophysical results indicated that a stronger CT state was generated in both E- and Z- isomers of PZNCF. This further confirmed our hypothesized mechanism where the stable E/Z configuration can be obtained under photoirradiation by forming a suitable donor-acceptor structure to suppress the E/Z isomerization reaction in the LE state by a rapid internal crossing process from the LE to CT state. This molecular design strategy is of great significance to organic photochemistry and photoelectronics for molecules with double bond units.     

Far infrared spectra, conformational equilibria, vibrational assignments, ab initio calculations and structural parameters for 2-bromoethanol

The far infrared spectrum from 370 to 50 cm⁻¹ of gaseous 2-bromoethanol, BrCH₂CH₂OH, was recorded at a resolution of 0.10 cm⁻¹. The fundamental O–H torsion of the more stable gauche (Gg′) conformer, where the capital G refers to internal rotation around the C–C bond and the lower case g to the internal rotation around the C–O bond, was observed as a series of Q-branch transitions beginning at 340 cm⁻¹. The corresponding O–H torsional modes were observed for two of the other high energy conformers, Tg (285 cm⁻¹) and Tt (234 cm⁻¹). The heavy atom asymmetric torsion (rotation around C–C bond) for the Gg′ conformer has been observed at 140 cm⁻¹. Variable temperature (−63 to −100°C) studies of the infrared spectra (4000–400 cm⁻¹) of the sample dissolved in liquid xenon have been recorded. From these data the enthalpy differences have been determined to be 411±40 cm⁻¹ (4.92±0.48 kJ/mol) for the Gg′/Tt and 315±40 cm⁻¹ (3.76±0.48 kJ/mol) for the Gg′/Tg, with the Gg′ conformer the most stable form. Additionally, the infrared spectrum of the gas, and Raman spectrum of the liquid phase are reported. The structural parameters, conformational stabilities, barriers to internal rotation and fundamental frequencies have been obtained from ab initio calculations utilizing different basis sets at the restricted Hartree–Fock or with full electron correlation by the perturbation method to second order. The theoretical results are compared to the experimental results when appropriate. Combining the ab initio calculations with the microwave rotational constants, r₀ adjusted parameters have been obtained for the three 2-haloethanols (F, Cl and Br) for the Gg′ conformers.     

Stereodynamics of Ar–CO rotation and conformational preferences of 2-amino-3-(2,4-difluorobenzoyl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

The dynamic NMR analysis of 2, a subunit of a new class of cyclic-dependent kinase inhibitors, reveals that the compound exists as two conformational isomers, Z and E, in acetone, as a consequence of the restricted rotation about the imidazopyridine–carbonyl bond. The less hindered Z-rotamer is the most abundant conformer (85:15 Z/E at 233 K) and the free energy of activation of the interconversion is 13.2 kcal mol⁻¹. The rotamer ratio and the interconversion barrier are similar in other solvents, such as CD₃OD and CDCl₃.     

A simultaneous TG–DTA study of the thermal decomposition of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-carboxyphenyl ester (salsalate)

Simultaneous thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection have been used to study the kinetics and decomposition of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-carboxyphenyl ester, commercially known as salsalate. Samples of salsalate were heated in the TG–DTA apparatus in an inert atmosphere (100 ml min⁻¹ nitrogen) in the temperature range 30–500 °C. The data indicated that the decomposition of salsalate is a two-stage process. The first decomposition stage (150–250 °C) had a best fit with second-order kinetics with E_a=191–198 kJ/mol. The second decomposition stage (300–400 °C) is described as a zero-order process with E_a=72–80 kJ/mol. The products of the decomposition were investigated in two ways:

(a)Salsalate was heated in a gas chromatograph at various isothermal temperatures in the range 150–280 °C, and the exit gas stream analyzed by mass spectrometry (GC–MS). This approach suggested that salsalate decomposes with the formation of salicylic acid, phenol, phenyl salicylate, and cyclic oligomers of salicylic acid di- and tri-salicylides.

(b)One gram samples of salsalate were heated in a vessel under nitrogen to 150 °C, and the residues were analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The major compound detected was a linear tetrameric salicylate ester.

     

Phase behavior, conformations, thermodynamic properties, and molecular motion of multicomponent paraffin waxes: A Raman spectroscopy study

Variable-temperature (72–20 °C) studies of Raman spectra (3100–800 cm⁻¹) and thermal analysis of multicomponent paraffin wax have been carried out. The disorder–order transition under liquid–solid transition was observed and their temperature ranges were obtained through the S_lateral order parameter as a function of temperature. From 56 to 43 °C, the paraffin undergoes a conformational state transition of non-extended chain state (NECS) to extended chain state (ECS). The enthalpy and entropy change for the transition obtained by van’t Hoff analysis were 214.286 ± 21 kJ/mol and 0.661 ± 0.066 kJ/mol/K, respectively. The enthalpy determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was 52.165 ± 5.2 kJ/mol, which is smaller than the van’t Hoff enthalpy due to larger effective non-extended chain state. The variation of Raman spectra with decreasing temperature presents the structure evolution and molecular motion during the crystallization of paraffin wax.     

Structure and conformational properties of carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride, O=C(N=S(O)F2)2

The molecular structure and conformational properties of O=C(N=S(O)F₂)₂ (carbonylbisimidosulfuryl fluoride) were determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) and quantumchemical calculations (HF/3-21G* and B3LYP/6-31G*). The analysis of the GED intensities resulted in a mixture of 76(12)% syn–syn and 24(12)% syn–anti conformer (ΔH⁰=H⁰(syn–anti)−H⁰(syn–syn)=1.11(32) kcal mol⁻¹) which is in agreement with the interpretation of the IR spectra (68(5)% syn–syn and 32(5)% syn–anti, ΔH⁰=0.87(11) kcal mol⁻¹). syn and anti describe the orientation of the S=N bonds relative to the C=O bond. In both conformers the S=O bonds of the two N=S(O)F₂ groups are trans to the C–N bonds. According to the theoretical calculations, structures with cis orientation of an S=O bond with respect to a C–N bond do not correspond to minima on the energy hyperface. The HF/3-21G* approximation predicts preference of the syn–anti structure (ΔE=−0.11 kcal mol⁻¹) and the B3LYP/6-31G* method results in an energy difference (ΔE=1.85 kcal mol⁻¹) which is slightly larger than the experimental values. The following geometric parameters for the O=C(N=S)₂ skeleton were derived (r_a values with 3σ uncertainties): C=O 1.193 (9) Å, C–N 1.365 (9) Å, S=N 1.466 (5) Å, O=C–N 125.1 (6)° and C–N=S 125.3 (10)°. The geometric parameters are reproduced satisfactorily by the HF/3-21G* approximation, except for the C–N=S angle which is too large by ca. 6°. The B3LYP method predicts all bonds to be too long by 0.02–0.05 Å and the C–N=S angle to be too small by ca. 4°.     

An ab initio conformational study on 2,3-dihydrobilin-1,19(21H,24H)-dione, a model compound for open-chain tetrapyrroles

The molecule 2,3-dihydrobilin-1,19(21H,24H)-dione (DHB) was studied as a model of the fully conjugated linear open-chain tetrapyrroles phycocyanobilin (PCB), phycoerythrobilin (PEB) and phytochrome (PC) as well as biliverdin (BV) and bilirubin (BR). The rotations around the single bonds of the exocyclic methine bridges were investigated for all possible cis and trans, E and Z isomers of DHB. The geometries and energies of conformers were investigated with semiempirical and ab initio methods using AM1 and RHF/3-21G levels of theory. Results indicate that geometries with a central syn–cis configuration are preferred to other conformations around the central methine bridge. Four lowest energy conformations stabilized by hydrogen bonding and favorable geometric arrangements minimizing steric strain were predicted. This model elucidated the trends and identified variables associated with tetrapyrrole conformation and energy and thus may serve as a preliminary basis for studying other open-chain tetrapyrrole structures.     

E-(hydroxyimino)(hydroxymethoxyphosphinyl)acetic acid: Synthesis and pH-dependent fragmentation

In contrast to both its parent “troika” acid (E-1, a phosphorylating agent at pH 7 and 25 °C) and its C-methyl isomer (E-2, which is stable at both acidic and neutral pH), (E)-(hydroxyimino)(hydroxymethoxyphosphinyl)acetic acid E-3 was unreactive at pH 7 and 25 °C but at pH 1.5 fragmented to methyl phosphate 10 (15%) and methyl phosphorocyanidate 11 (85%). The minor product is consistent with solvent phosphorylalion, the reaction exclusively observed with E-1. The non-phosphorylating fragmentation pathway is proposed to involve a preliminary E→ Z isomerizalion of 3 prior to C-C_β cleavage. Dual fragmentation pathways were also detected (³¹P NMR) when the DCHA⁺ salt of E-3 (E-9) was heated in acetonitrile or EtOH; in addition to phosphorylation products (16–19%), 11 was formed (81–84%). Reaction of E-9 in refluxing EtOH:t-BuOH (1:1) showed low stereoselectivity in product formation (~3:1 ethyl methyl phosphate:t-butyl methyl phosphate), supporting a dissociative phosphorylation process.     

Locating conical intersections relevant to photochemical reactions

A new computerized method for locating conical intersections of interest in photochemistry is presented. The search is based on the Longuet-Higgins phase change theorem (Berry phase) which provides the subspace required for the initial search. The subspace is approximated as a plane containing three stable structures lying on a Longuet-Higgins loop. The search is conducted for a minimum of ΔE, the energy difference between two electronic states. It is started using up to three points within the circle defined by the three structures; symmetry, if relevant, is helpful but not essential. Since a two-dimensional subspace of the large 3N − 6 space is used, the search that uses either Cartesian or internal coordinates is efficient and yields a degeneracy after a few iterations. Given that not all degrees of freedom are included in the search, usually a high lying part of the conical intersection is initially located. The system is subsequently optimized along all coordinates keeping ΔE as close to zero as desired. The method is demonstrated for the symmetric H₃ system and also for the butadiene–cyclobutene–bicyclobutane system in which the three stable structures are not equivalent. The method is general and can be extended to any photochemical system.     

Accelerated aging and lifetime prediction: Review of non-Arrhenius behaviour due to two competing processes

Lifetime prediction of polymeric materials often requires extrapolation of accelerated aging data with the suitability and confidence in such approaches being subject to ongoing discussions. This paper reviews the evidence of non-Arrhenius behaviour (curvature) instead of linear extrapolations in polymer degradation studies. Several studies have emphasized mechanistic variations in the degradation mechanism and demonstrated changes in activation energies but often data have not been fully quantified. To improve predictive capabilities a simple approach for dealing with curvature in Arrhenius plots is examined on a basis of two competing reactions. This allows for excellent fitting of experimental data as shown for some elastomers, does not require complex kinetic modelling, and individual activation energies are easily determined. Reviewing literature data for the thermal degradation of polypropylene a crossover temperature (temperature at which the two processes equally contribute) of 83 °C was determined, with the high temperature process having a considerably higher activation energy (107–156 kJ/mol) than the low temperature process (35–50 kJ/mol). Since low activation energy processes can dominate at low temperatures and longer extrapolations result in larger uncertainties in lifetime predictions, experiments focused on estimating E_a values at the lowest possible temperature instead of assuming straight line extrapolations will lead to more confident lifetime estimates.     

Theoretical studies on the photochemical reaction mechanisms of o-xylylene. Effects of phenyl group for electrocyclic reaction mechanism

The potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the electrocyclic reactions of o-xylylene at the ground and the lowest excited states are calculated by CASSCF molecular orbital and MRMP2 methods. The lowest excited state geometry of o-xylylene has C(2v) symmetry and is about 65 kcal mol(-1) in energy above the ground state. The PESs in the vicinity of the conical intersection are different from those of the electrocyclic reaction of cis-butadiene. In the vicinity of the conical intersection, the transition state at the ground state relating to methylene-cycloheptadienyl carbene is located. The transition state is only 4.3 kcal mol(-1) lower in energy than the conical intersection at the CASSCF(10,10)/6-31G(d) level and 0.5 kcal mol(-1) lower at the MRMP2/6-311+G(d,p) level. The transition state corresponding to benzocyclobutene does not locate in the vicinity of the conical intersection because of the resonance energy between benzene ring and methylene group.     

Gelation of β-lactoglobulin in the presence of propylene glycol alginate: kinetics and gel properties

The role of the non-gelling polysaccharide, propyleneglycol alginate (PGA), on the dynamics of gelation and gel properties of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) under conditions where the protein alone does not gel (6%) was analyzed. To this end, the kinetics of gelation, aggregation and denaturation of β-lg in the mixed systems (pH 7) were studied at different temperatures (64–88 °C). The presence of PGA increased thermal stability of β-lg. The rate of β-lg denaturation was decreased and the onset and peak denaturation temperatures increased by 2.2–2.4 °C. PGA promoted the formation of larger aggregates that continued to grow in time. An average aggregate diameter of approximately 300 nm is reached at the gel point in the mixed β-lg+PGA systems, irrespective of the heating temperature. Comparing the activation energies for the aggregation (193 kJ/mol), denaturation (422 kJ/mol) and formation of the primary gel structure (1/t_gel) (256 kJ/mol) processes in the mixed protein–polysaccharide system, it can be concluded that the rate determining step in the formation of the primary gel structure would be the aggregation of protein. E_a values for the processes after the gel point (solid phase gelation) suggest a diffusion limited process because of the high viscosity of the solid gelling matrix. The characteristics of the mixed β-lg+PGA gels in terms of rheological and textural parameters, water loss and microstructure were studied as a function of heating temperature and time. The extent of aggregation and the type of interactions involved, prior to denaturation seem to be very important in determining the gel structure and its properties.     

Pyrolysis mechanism of carbon matrix precursor cyclohexane(III)—pyrolysis process of intermediate 1-hexene

The pyrolysis mechanism of important intermediate 1-hexene of carbon matrix precursor cyclohexane was studied theoretically. Possible reaction paths were designed based on the potential surface scan and electron structure of the initial C–C bond breaking reactions. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the possible reaction paths were computed by UB3LYP/6-31+G* at different temperature ranges. The results show that 1-hexene pyrolyzes at 873 K. When below 1273 K, the major reaction paths are those that produce C₃H₄, and above 1273 K, the major reaction paths are those that produce C₃H₃ from the viewpoint of thermodynamics. From the viewpoint of kinetics, the major product is C₃H₃, it results from the pyrolysis reaction of 1-hexene cracking bond C₃–C₄ and generating C₃H₅ and C₃H₇ with the activation energy ΔE₀^≠θ=296.32 kJ/mol. Kinetic results also show that product C₃H₄ accompany simultaneously, which is the side reaction starting from the pyrolysis of 1-hexene forming C₄H₇ and C₂H₅ with the activation energy of 356.73 kJ/mol. When reaching 1473 K, the rate constant of the rate-determining steps of these two reaction paths do not show much difference, which means both the reaction paths exist in the pyrolysis process at the high temperature. The above results are basically in accordance with mass spectrum analysis and far more specific.     

Solvent-assisted catalysis mechanism on Keto–enol tautomerism of cyameluric acid

The keto–enol tautomerism of cyameluric acid, both in gas phase and in water and methanol solution, has been studied at the B3LYP/6-31++g(d,P) level of theory in this paper. The harmonic frequencies of all the structures are calculated. The results show that the transition states of the tautomerism are 4-membered ring conformations in gas phase, whereas 6-membered ring conformations in solution. In the first proton transfer, activation energy ΔE^# is 56.4 and 50.9 kJ/mol for water and methanol solution, respectively, which is much lower than that in gas phase (163.2 kJ/mol). Solvent molecules (water and methanol) produce an important catalytic effect in the tautomerism, especially for methanol-solvated system. NBO analysis shows that there is a strong interaction between cyameluric acid and solvent molecules in transition states. AIM charge analysis indicates that the keto–enol tautomerism shows a certain degree of proton transfer character. From the reaction enthalpy and reaction rate point of view, keto–enol tautomerism in water-solvated and methanol-solvated system is easier than that in gas phase. The keto–enol tautomerisms are endothermic both in gas phase and in solution, so the enol forms are less stable than the keto ones.     

Electron transfer of quinone self-assembled monolayers on a gold electrode

Dialkyl disulfide-linked naphthoquinone, (NQ-C_n-S)₂, and anthraquinone, (AQ-C_n-S)₂, derivatives with different spacer alkyl chains (C_n: n = 2, 6, 12) were synthesized and these quinone derivatives were self-assembled on a gold electrode. The formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these derivatives on a gold electrode was confirmed by infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IR-RAS). Electron transfer between the derivatives and the gold electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry. On the cyclic voltammogram a reversible redox reaction between quinone (Q) and hydroquinone (QH₂) was clearly observed under an aqueous condition. The formal potentials for NQ and AQ derivatives were −0.48 and −0.58 V, respectively, that did not depend on the spacer length. The oxidation and reduction peak currents were strongly dependent on the spacer alkyl chain length. The redox behavior of quinone derivatives depended on the pH condition of the buffer solution. The pH dependence was in agreement with a theoretical value of E_1/2 (mV) = E′ − 59pH for 2H⁺/2e⁻ process in the pH range 3–11. In the range higher than pH 11, the value was estimated with E_1/2 (mV) = E′ − 30pH , which may correspond to H⁺/2e⁻ process. The tunneling barrier coefficients (β) for NQ and AQ SAMs were determined to be 0.12 and 0.73 per methylene group (CH₂), respectively. Comparison of the structures and the alkyl chain length of quinones derivatives on these electron transfers on the electrode is made.     

A monolayer study on three binary mixed systems of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline with cholesterol, cholestanol and stigmasterol

The monolayer behavior of three mixed systems of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) with sterols; cholesterol (Ch), stigmasterol (Stig), and cholestanol (Chsta) formed at the interface of air/water (phosphate buffer solution at 7.4 with addition of NaCl) was investigated in terms of surface pressure (π) and molecular occupation surface area (A) relation. A series of π–A curves at every 0.1 mol fraction of each sterol for the three combinations of mixed systems were obtained at 25.0 °C.

On the basis of the π–A curves, the additivity rule in regard to A versus sterol mole fraction (X_st) was examined at discrete surface pressures such as 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 mN m⁻¹, and then from the obtained A–X_st curves the partial molecular areas (PMA) were determined. The A–X_st relation exhibited a marked negative deviation from ideal mixing in the pressure range below 10 mN m⁻¹, i.e. in the expanded liquid film region (below the transition pressure of DPPC).

The PMA of Ch at π=5 mN m⁻¹, for example, was found to be conspicuously negative in the range of X_Ch=0–0.2 (about −0.4 nm² per molecule) and slightly positive (ca. 0.1 nm² per molecule) in the range X_Ch=0.2 to 0.4. Above X_Ch=0.5, Ch’s PMA was almost the same as the surface area of pure Ch, while DPPC’s PMA was reduced to 60% of that of the pure system.

Excess Gibbs energy (ΔG_(ex)) as a function of X_st was estimated at different pressures. Applying the regular solution theory to thermodynamic analysis of ΔG_(ex), the activity coefficients (f₁ and f₂) of DPPC and the respective sterols as well as the interaction parameter (I_p) in the mixed film phase were evaluated; the results showed a marked dependence on X_st.

Compressibility C_s and elasticity C_s⁻¹ were also examined. These physical parameters directly reflected the mechanical strength of formed monolayer film.

Phase diagrams plotting the collapse pressure (π_c) against X_st were constructed, and the π_c versus X_st curves were examined for the respective mixed systems in comparison with the simulated curves of ideal mixing based on the Joos equation.

Comparing the monolayer behavior of the three mixed systems, little remarkable difference was found in regard to various aspects. In common among the three combinations, the mole fraction dependence in monolayer properties was classified into three ranges: 0<X_st<0.2, 0.2<X_st<0.4 and 0.5<X_st<1. How the difference in the chemical structure of the sterols influenced the properties was examined in detail.