Rapid Self-Polycondensation of Amphiphilic Amino Acid Esters in Ordered Molecular Assemblies. An Morphological Evidence for Lateral Growth of Polypeptide at the Air–Water Interface

Monolayer-forming amphiphiles of amino acid esters, phenyl and 1,1-dichloroethyl esters of 2-aminoeicosanoic acid, underwent self-condensation to polypeptides in ordered monolayers with their reaction rates much higher than in non-ordered media. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed rapid progress of lateral polymerization at the air–water interface.