DIRECT ASSIGNMENT OF ABSOLUTE-CONFIGURATION OF CHIRAL ALKYL GLUCONAMIDES BY WETTABILITY MEASUREMENTS

The contact angle of a crystal face affords information about the absolute configuration of the molecules forming the crystal. This could be demonstrated with the alkylgluconamides 1, which crystallize with the molecules arranged in layers. The angle of contact at the face consisting of the chain-end alkyls is 75-87-degrees, while at the oppositely disposed face consisting of the CH2OH groups it is 44-56-degrees-C.