Effect of the hydroxy group position on the monolayer characteristics of hydroxypalmitic acids

For the two types in the position of the OH-substitution, large differences in the morphology of the condensed phase domains indicate adequate differences in the long-range orientational order. In the case of OH-substitution near the COOH-head-group, irregular domain growth occurs while at OH-substitution in or near the mid-position of the alkyl chain, regular patterning of the domains indicate a high ordering. The reasons for the differences in the ordering are discussed.