Fluorination of the hydrophilic head accelerates the collapse of the monolayer but stabilizes the bilayer of a long-chain trifluoroethyl ether on water

A comparison of the collapse of Langmuir monolayers of docosyl trifluoroethyl ether (DFEE) and docosyl ethyl ether (DEE) on water shows that in both films the 3D phase is formed layer-by-layer. The substitution of CH3 by a CF3 group in the hydrophilic head yields a more stable bilayer exhibiting lower equilibrium spreading pressure, pi(esp)(DFEE) < pi(esp)(DEE). Upon lateral compression, the DFEE bilayer fractures abruptly as a compact solid body whereas the DEE bilayer breaks down gradually as a polycrystalline material. A comparison of the collapse kinetics of the two films at the same constant supersaturation pi-pi(esp) = 7 mN/m shows that the fluorinated DFEE monolayer transforms more quickly, yielding a stable bilayer of closely packed upright molecules, whereas the DEE film undergoes a continuous monolayer-bilayer-multilayer transition. Brewster angle microscopy allows us to visualize different collapse mechanisms of the DFEE and DEE films; the domains of the fluorinated DFEE bilayer grow laterally at constant thickness and density, and the collapse of the nonfluorinated DEE monolayer occurs through a sequence of disordered stripelike and broken elongated textures. The characteristic molecular areas of the monolayer and bilayer collapse suggest that the 2D-3D transition in the DFEE and DEE films is accompanied by at least partial dehydration of their headgroups. The faster collapse of the fluorinated monolayer could result from a lower energy barrier due to the more hydrophobic CF3 group in the heads. The increased stability of the DFEE bilayer could be associated with the electrostatic attraction between the -C(F delta-)3 versus (H delta+)3C- terminals at the heads-to-tails contact plane of the top and the bottom layer, contrasting with the repulsion between the -C(H delta+)3 versus (H delta+)3C- terminals of the top-layer heads and the bottom-layer tails in the DEE bilayer.     

Fluorinated polar heads can strikingly increase or invert the dipole moments at the Langmuir monolayer-water boundary: possible effects from headgroup conformations

The dipole potential of lipid monolayers and bilayers is positive toward their nonpolar moiety. In previous papers, we have shown that designed molecules with fluorinated polar heads can invert the polarity of un-ionized Langmuir films. Monolayers of long-chain trifluoroethyl ester RCOOCH2CF3 and trifluoroethyl ether ROCH2CF3 exhibit large negative DeltaV values, shifted by 150-200% from the positive dipole potentials of their non-fluorinated analogs (Petrov and M?hwald J. Phys. Chem. 1996, 100, 18458; Petrov et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 14102). Here we report large positive surface (dipole) potentials of monolayers of N-trifluoroethyl docosanamide RCONHCH2CF3 and a 300% DeltaV shift with respect to the non-fluorinated N-ethyl docosanamide films. Comparing the dipole potentials and normal dipole moments of the RCONHCH2CF3 and RCOOCH2CF3 monolayers and the maps of the local electrostatic potential (MEP) and lipophilicity (MLP) of their molecules in vacuum, we conclude that the opposite DeltaV shifts and the difference of 1480 mV between the films of these structurally similar amphiphiles seem to be due to strongly different conformations of their heads. The large positive DeltaV values of the N-trifluoroethyl amide monolayer was related to the network of -NH...O=C- bonds fixing the orientation of the hydrophobic delta+C-F3delta- dipoles toward water. The trifluoroethyl ester heads do not form H-bonds and can adjust their energetically optimal conformation orienting the hydrophobic delta+C-F3delta- dipoles toward air. The opposite signs of the dipole potential and the apparent normal dipole moments of the trifluoroethyl ester and ethyl ester monolayers were explained via energy minimization of 36 upright closely packed molecules with "hook-like" heads. The equilibrium architecture of this ensemble shows statistical distribution of the headgroup conformations and a nano-rough monolayer-water boundary as known from X-ray reflectivity experiments and molecular dynamic simulations of phospholipid monolayers and bilayers. The average of the vertical molecular dipole moments at equilibrium agree fairly well with the measured values of mu perpendicular, and the mean molecular area in the ensemble 19.3 A2 matches the value of 18.9 +/- 0.2 A2 determined via X-ray diffraction at gracing incidence surprisingly well. These results reflect the balance of the attractive and repulsive forces between the closely packed "dry" amphiphilic molecules, but a more sophisticated molecular modeling explicitly including water would better serve to reveal the mechanism of the observed effects.     

Structure of the Langmuir monolayers with fluorinated ethyl amide and ethyl ester polar heads creating dipole potentials of opposite sign

This study experimentally checks our previous hypothesis (Petrov, J. G.; Polymeropoulos, E. E.; Moehwald, H. Langmuir 2007, 23, 2623) that different conformations of the fluorinated heads of RCONHCH(2)CF(3) and RCOOCH(2)CF(3) monolayers cause the opposite signs and the striking difference of 1.480 V between their surface potentials Delta V. In situ X-ray diffraction at grazing incidence (GIXD) shows that both monolayers form orthorhombic lattices with closely packed chains tilted to the next-nearest neighbors in the RCONHCH(2)CF(3) film and upright in the RCOOCH(2)CF(3) monolayer. The packing of the chains in the plane perpendicular to them, which excludes the effect of the tilt, shows the same distance between the next-nearest neighbors, but significantly closer nearest neighbors in the RCONHCH(2)CF(3) film. This difference implies a specific anisotropic attraction between the adjacent amide heads. IR reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) shows that the -CONHCH(2)CF(3) heads have trans conformation and participate in H-bonds forming a -NH...O=C- lateral network. We speculate that such structure hinders the energetically optimal orientation of the hydrophobic -CH(2)CF(3) terminals toward air, so that the (delta+)C-(F (delta-))(3) dipoles at the monolayer/water boundary yield a strong positive contribution to Delta V. In contrast, most of the unbounded by H-bonds -COOCH(2)CF(3) heads statistically orient their hydrophobic (delta+)C-(F (delta-))(3) dipoles toward air, yielding a negative average dipole moment at the monolayer/water boundary and negative surface dipole potential.     

Sum-frequency spectroscopy analysis of two-component langmuir monolayers and the associated interfacial water structure

Sum-frequency spectroscopy (SFS) in the CH and OH stretching regions was employed to obtain structural information about Langmuir monolayers on the H(2)O subphase of the model lipid dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DOMA) and of the neutral surfactant methyl stearate (SME) and their mixtures and about the interfacial water structure underneath the films. These results were compared with the sum-frequency spectra of the interface between Langmuir monolayers of stearic acid and stearic acid-DOMA monolayers and water to prove that the uncompensated headgroup charge of DOMA at the interface is the reason for structuring of interfacial water close to the studied monomolecular films. Sum-frequency spectra on D(2)O subphase were also studied to account for the interference between the CH and OH spectral signatures because of the coherent nature of the SFS signals. Interfacial water structure proved to be a determining factor in the behavior of the mixed lipid monolayers. A mixing induced amplification in the surface potential DeltaV observed in our previous work was explained with total increase of the dipole moment for the mixed films, bigger than the arithmetic average for DOMA and SME monolayers alone. The increase is due to the better packing of the molecules in the mixed films and to the decrease in the interfacial water dipole moment arising from a more disordered water structure underneath the mixed monolayers.     

Molecular Orientation and Structure in LB Films of a Liquid Crystal MPUOPM Investigated by UV-Vis and IR Spectroscopy

"?Langmuir monolayers and LB films of 4-((s)-2-methylbutoxy)phenyl-(4'-(10-undecen-1-oyloxy)phenyl) methylenimine (MPUOPM) were investigated by ultraviolet-visible, polarized infrared spectroscopy. ?-A isotherms showed well-defined Langmuir monolayers were formed at an air/water interface for the MPUOPM and their mixture with SA. An inflection point at 13 mN/m appeared on the isotherm, which was due to the transition from the monolayer to multilayer. The polarized IR spectra of LB films of MPUOPM had provided new insight into the molecular orientation and structure. In LB films, the tilted angle between the alkyl chain and the normal line of the substrate was 48ffi, the tilted angle between the dipole moment of C=N and the normal line of the substrate was 51ffi. The alkyl chains assumed a trans-zigzag conformation but it included a few gauche conformers. The C=N groups were almost in one plane in the LB films. "     

Molecular Dipole Evaluation Using Monolayer Films: Can Computations Link Theory with Experiments?

A novel computational approach is presented for the determination of the effective electrical dipole of amphiphile molecules in monolayers at the air‐water interface (Langmuir films). Results from ab initio computations on model compounds, combined with molecular mechanics simulations of the associated films are consistent with experimentally determined dipole data. Though presently at its preliminary stage, this method may prove helpful in elucidating structural features that are not otherwise experimentally accessible.     

Semifluorinated alcohols in Langmuir monolayers--a comparative study

A series of semifluorinated alcohols differing in the proportion of the perfluorinated to hydrogenated chains length was synthesized and investigated in Langmuir monolayers using surface pressure and surface potential measurements. All the investigated semifluorinated alcohols were found to be capable of stable floating monolayer formation. The stability of monolayers was found to be higher upon increasing the length of the perfluorinated segment. A lower stability of the monolayers from alcohols having shorter perfluorinated fragment was attributed to the aggregation process, which was visualized with Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Most condensed monolayers were formed by compounds with longer perfluorinated moiety, whereas monolayers composed by molecules with an iso-branched perfluorinated segment were found to be more expanded. The change of electric surface potential was negative along the whole compression. The maximum absolute values of DeltaV varies, depending on the number of CF(2) groups, from ca. -400 mV for F6H10OH to ca. -700 mV for F10H10OH. The dipole moments of free molecules were calculated with Hyperchem, and the obtained values were approximately the same (within the experimental error), i.e., 2.8D for all the investigated molecules, independently on the perfluorinated fragment length. The dipole moment vector was found to be virtually aligned to the main molecular axis for the studied compounds. Therefore, the observed differences in the measured values of DeltaV can result from a different dielectric permittivity of a particular monolayer.     

Semifluorinated chains in 2D-(perfluorododecyl)-alkanes at the air/water interface

Langmuir monolayers of a homologous series of perfluorododecyl-n-alkanes (general formula F(CF2)12(CH2)nH, abbreviated as F12Hn, where n = 6-20) are investigated through isotherms of surface pressure (pi) and electric surface potential (DeltaV) versus area (A) and quantitative Brewster angle microscopy. The investigated monolayers are found to be liquid in nature. The negative sign of the measured surface potential evidences the orientation of all the investigated molecules with their perfluorinated parts directed toward the air regardless of the length of the hydrogenated unit. Analysis of the direction of the molecular dipole moment with respect to the main axis indicates that the minimum effective dipole moment is achieved for a molecule oriented at an angle of about 35 degrees to the surface normal. The film thickness was evaluated from the relative intensity measurements. The results suggest that the F12Hn molecules are tilted to the interface in the vicinity of collapse, which is in accordance with the liquid character of their monolayers.     

Properties of lipophilic nucleoside monolayers at the air–water interface

The capability of self-assembly and molecular recognition of biomolecules is essential for many nanotechnological applications, as in the use of alkyl-modified nucleosides and oligonucleotides to increase the cellular uptake of DNA and RNA. In this study, we show that a lipophilic nucleoside, which is an isomer mixture of 2′-palmitoyluridin und 3′-palmitoyluridin, forms Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir–Blodgett films as a typical amphiphile, though with a smaller elasticity. The nucleoside may be incorporated into dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) monolayers that serve as a simplified cell membrane model. The molecular-level interactions between the nucleoside and DPPC led to a remarkable condensation of the mixed monolayer, which affected both surface pressure and surface potential isotherms. The morphology of the mixed monolayers was dominated by the small domains of the nucleoside. The mixed monolayers could be deposited onto solid substrates as a one-layer Langmuir Blodgett film that displayed UV–vis absorption spectra typical of aggregated nucleosides owing to the interaction between the nucleoside and DPPC. The formation of solid films with DNA building blocks in the polar heads may open the way for devices and sensors be produced to exploit their molecular recognition properties.     

Effect of phloretin on the dipole potential of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol monolayers

The effect of phloretin on the potential of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE,) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) monolayers below and above the phase transition in mixtures of different PC/PE ratios with and without cholesterol of ester and ether phospholipids have been determined. The effectiveness of phloretin to decrease the dipole potential of monolayers in the fluid state is lessened by the moieties esterified to the phosphate group in the sequence choline > ethanolamine > glycerol. These effects on the dipole potential of monolayers are independent of the presence of carbonyls. In addition, in the gel state phloretin does not affect the dipole potential on dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine, although it is very pronounced in dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine. The changes of the dipole potential induced by phloretin were correlated with the packing of the lipids and with the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between adjacent phospholipid molecules. These results may be indicative of the different distribution of polarized water around the phosphate groups imposed by the surrounding environment.     

冠醚和卟啉与花生酸混合单分子膜行为研究

本文将3'-正十五烷基苯并15-冠-5和六种无脂链难于直接成膜的四苯基卟啉与花生酸混合形成单分子膜。结果表明, 冠醚被嵌进而卟啉被挤出花生酸单分子层。卟啉-花生镉LB膜的可见吸收光谱指出卟啉分子成团聚集。扫描电镜观察了卟啉-花生酸镉混合LB膜的表面形貌, 在膜表面上无金涂层时直接测到了混合膜的相分离。     

Electrochemical properties of self-assembled monolayers of polyaniline: effects of the thiol substituent and reduced dimensionality

Self-assembled monolayers and bulk films of thioanilines, polymerized on gold and platinum surfaces, have been characterized and compared to bulk polyaniline (PANI) films. In a previous study [Kuwabata; et al. Langmuir 1999, 15, 6807-6812], only one redox couple was observed in the cyclic voltammetric profile of a polymerized monolayer of thioaniline on gold, in contrast to the known profiles of bulk PANI, which exhibit two couples. We observe two couples in both a polymerized thioaniline monolayer and a bulk polythioaniline (S-PANI) film, but the 200 mV window between the couples (the width of the region of high conductivity) in the S-PANI films is much smaller than the 600 mV window in bulk PANI. We ascribe this difference to the presence of the thiol substituent. The windows of high conductivity of the polymerized thioaniline monolayer and the bulk S-PANI film are the same within the limits of our experiment, implying that the difference in the dimensionality of the films (a 2D monolayer vs 3D bulk films) has a limited effect on the films' voltammetric profiles.     

The Langmur-blodgett monolayer dipole potential: a smeared dipole model for a lipid array,and pulsing of the potential by direct subphase infusion of immunochemical and lecti/polysaccharide complexes

An important contribution to the surface potential of lipid bilayers and monolayers comes from the intrinsic dipole moment of the lipid molecules. A theoretical model of the monolayer which involves a smeared dipole sheet approximation is introduced. This model is used to explore the nature and origins of the surface potential. In addition, the potential associated with phosphatidyl choline/cholesterol monolayers compressed on a Langmuir-Blodgett trough was measured with a non-contacting electrostatic voltmeter. A trough infusion configuration was fabricated to perform dynamic subphase experiments with compressed films in place. The potential/time response of monolayers to selective bimolecular systems such as antibody-antigen and concanavalin A-saccharide pairs was examined. These reactions induce spontaneous transients in dipole potential of magnitude 20–80 mV and duration of less than 1 s. The potential transients are attributed to local perturbation of lipid orientation and introduction of protein dipole fields caused by the formation of aggregates at the monolayer/water interface.     

Mixed monolayers of alkylated azacrown ethers and palmitic acid at the air-water surface

The Langmuir films of two alkylated azacrown ethers at the air-water surface were characterized using surface pressure-area isotherms, ellipsometry, Brewster angle microscopy, and constant-area surface pressure relaxation. The azacrown ether molecules aggregate in the monolayer, which significantly stabilizes the film against dissolution. Mixed azacrown ether-palmitic acid monolayers were also characterized; results suggest that at high compression the two molecules interact repulsively. The influence of Cu(II) ions present in the aqueous subphase on the single components and mixed monolayer characteristics was also studied.     

Reductive metalation of unsaturated compounds: the effect of allylic protons

Reductive metalation of alkali metals of hydrocarbons containing labile protons can be accompanied by proton transfer from the hydrocarbon to the derived radical anion and/or dianion. The extent of this reaction as a function of reaction conditions has been studied with trans-1,2-diphenylpropene (I). Three alkali metals, Li, Na and K, and two solvents, diethyl ether (DEE) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were examined.No significant proton transfer was observed with the Li/DEE, Li/THF or Na/DEE system: the product (III) being the vicinal dianion of (I). In the case of Li/DEE, the limited solubility of the dianion prevented complete conversion of (I) to (III) except in dilute solutions.With Na/THF, substantial amounts of proton transfer occurred to form the substituted allylic anion (V) from (I). The extent of this reaction could be controlled by varying the temperature and was largely suppressed at 0°.Extensive proton transfer resulted with K/THF. However, in this case the allylic anion (V) so formed was further reduced with dimerization to the tetra-anion of 1,2,5,6-tetraphenylhexane, (IX).     

Self-organization of a wedge-shaped surfactant in monolayers and multilayers

The self-organization behavior of a wedge-shaped surfactant, disodium-3,4,5-tris(dodecyloxy)phenylmethylphosphonate, was studied in Langmuir monolayers (at the air-water interface), Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers and multilayers, and films adsorbed spontaneously from isooctane solution onto a mica substrate (self-assembled films). This compound forms an inverted hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystal phase in the bulk and in thick adsorbed films. Surface pressure isotherm and Brewster angle microscope (BAM) studies of Langmuir monolayers revealed three phases: gas (G), liquid expanded (LE), and liquid condensed (LC). The surface pressure-temperature phase diagram was determined in detail; a triple point was found at approximately 10 degrees C. Atomic force microscope (AFM) images of LB monolayers transferred from various regions of the phase diagram were consistent with the BAM images and indicated that the LE regions are approximately 0.5 nm thinner than the LC regions. AFM images were also obtained of self-assembled films after various adsorption times. For short adsorption times, when monolayer self-assembly was incomplete, the film topography indicated the coexistence of two distinct monolayer phases. The height difference between these two phases was again 0.5 nm, suggesting a correspondence with the LE/LC coexistence observed in the Langmuir monolayers. For longer immersion times, adsorbed multilayers assembled into highly organized periodic arrays of inverse cylindrical micelles. Similar periodic structures, with the same repeat distance of 4.5 nm, were also observed in three-layer LB films. However, the regions of organized periodic structure were much smaller and more poorly correlated in the LB multilayers than in the films adsorbed from solution. Collectively, these observations indicate a high degree of similarity between the molecular organization in Langmuir layers/LB films and adsorbed self-assembled films. In both cases, monolayers progress through an LE phase, into LE/LC coexistence, and finally into LC phase as surface density increases. Following the deposition of an additional bilayer, the film reorganizes to form an array of inverted cylindrical micelles.     

Langmuir膜及LB膜中的金属参与

本文主要介绍了金属离子与Langmuir膜及LB膜相互作用中静电、配位等作用方式及其对膜相态和分子二维排列的影响。在此基础上探讨了Langmuir膜对金属离子的识别与传感。以Langmuir膜和LB膜为二维模板诱导无机盐定向生长作为金属/单分子膜结合的重要应用在文中也进行了讨论。通过举例展示了金属离子参与的Langmuir膜和LB膜催化有机反应的特点。最后对金属参与的Langmuir膜和LB膜在功能化和器件化等方面的研究也作了论述， 并通过介绍金属螯合类脂分子的Langmuir膜在蛋白质等生物大分子界面定向聚集研究中的应用表明了金属参与的Langmuir膜及LB 膜在生命科学研究中的意义。全文贯穿了金属结合调节Langmuir膜和LB膜组装结构以及通过金属结合导入功能基团进行有序组装的思想。     

Supramolecular assemblies of a new series of gemini-type schiff base amphiphiles at the air/water interface: in situ coordination, interfacial nanoarchitectures, and spacer effect

Great interest has been devoted to the gemini amphiphiles because of their unique properties. In this article, we report some interesting properties of the interfacial films formed by a series of newly designed gemini amphiphiles containing the Schiff base moiety. This novel series of gemini amphiphiles with their Schiff base headgroups linked by a hydrophobic alkyl spacer (BisSBC18Cn, n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) could be spread to form stable monolayers and coordinated with Cu(Ac)(2) in situ in the monolayer. The alkyl spacer in the amphiphiles has a great effect on the regulation of the properties of the Langmuir monolayers. A maximum limiting molecular area was observed for the monolayers of the gemini amphiphile with the spacer length of hexa- or octamethylene groups. Both the monolayers on water and on the aqueous Cu(Ac)(2) subphase were transferred onto solid substrates, and different morphologies were observed for films with different spacers. Nanonail and tapelike morphologies were observed for amphiphile films with shorter spacers (n = 2 and 4) on the water surface. Wormlike morphologies were observed for gemini films with longer spacers of C(8) and C(10) when coordinated with Cu(Ac)(2). An interdigitated layer structure was supposed to form in the multilayer films transferred from water or the aqueous Cu(Ac)(2) subphase.     

Monolayer properties of surface-active metalorganic complexes with a tunable headgroup

Surface-active metalorganic complexes can be used to construct organic thin films with excellent electronic and catalytic properties. We have recently introduced a new versatile surface-active ligand, which can efficiently coordinate a wide range of transition metals. In the present work we report an investigation of Langmuir monolayers of V V, Mo VI and Ti IV complexes of this ligand, using surface pressure-area isotherms, Brewster-angle microscopy, and Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. The monolayers of these complexes are stable enough over broad temperature ranges to allow efficient transfer to solid substrates.     

In situ observation of gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticle adsorption under different monolayers at the air/water interface

We studied the adsorption of gamma-Fe 2O 3 nanoparticles from an aqueous solution under different charged Langmuir monolayers (stearic acid, stearyl alcohol, and stearyl amine). The aqueous subphase was composed of a colloidal suspension of gamma-Fe 2O 3 nanoparticles. The average hydrodynamic diameter of the nanoparticles measured by dynamic light scattering measurements was 16 nm. The observed zeta potential of +40 mV (at pH 4) results in a long-term stability of the colloidal dispersion. The behavior of the different monolayer/nanoparticle composites were studied with surface pressure/area (pi/ A) isotherms. The adsorption of the nanoparticles under the different monolayers induced an expansion of the monolayers. These phenomena depended on the charge of the monolayers. After the Langmuir/Blodgett transfer on glass substrates, the nanoparticle/monolayer composite films were studied by means of UV-vis spectroscopy. The spectra pointed to increasing adsorption of the nanoparticles with increasing electronegativity of the monolayers. On the basis of these results, we studied the in situ adsorption of nanoparticles under the different monolayers by X-ray reflectivity measurements. Electron density profiles of the liquid/gas interfaces were obtained from the X-ray reflectivity data. The results gave clear evidence for the presence of electrostatic interaction between the differently charged monolayers and the positively charged nanoparticles. While the adsorption process was favored by the negatively charged stearic acid monolayer, the positively charged layer of stearyl amine prevented the formation of ultrathin nanoparticle layers.