Formation of Molecular Strands by Hydrogen Bonds at the Gas–Water Interface: Molecular Recognition and Quantitative Hydrolysis of Barbituric Acid Lipids

Abstract

Reminiscent of an enzyme reaction is the proposed mechanism for the hydrolysis of the barbituric acid lipid 1, R = C16H33, when it forms a strand structure with 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine (TAP) at the gas–water interface (2). The TAP-catalyzed hydrolysis at pH 6.5 is 14 times faster than the simple addition of 0H to the CC double bond at pH 10.