Optically active diamide as a model for studying interactions between mineral salts and nylon type polyamides in methanol solutions

N,N′-Dicaproyl (–)1,2-diaminopropane (I) was used as a convenient model for the study of the optical activity of a nylon type polyamide: polysebacamide (–)1,2-diaminopropane (II). ORD of I was measured in different solvents. A peculiar behavior is observed in methanol in the presence of mineral salts. The influence of 0.1M potassium salts (Cl^?, Br^?, SCN^?, NO₃^?, SO₄^?2) and 0.1M alkaline chlorides and alkaline earth chloride hexahydrates on the optical activity of I in methanol are described. Alkaline salts and MgCl₂ give approximately the same effect: there is a decrease of the rotations without change of sign. SrCl₂ and CaCl₂ shift ORD curves towards the negative rotations, the last one giving complete inversion. This inversion is directly related to the CaCl₂ concentration and is attributed to adduct formation between amide groups and salt. Assuming that the different species are at equilibrium, an apparent equilibrium constant is obtained from the optical rotations for a complex of one mole of CaCl₂ with one mole of I. Results are used to discuss the complex ORD of poly(?) 1,2-diaminopropane sebacamide in methanol saturated with CaCl₂.