Solid–vapour reactions of cholic acid and methyl cholate with acetonitrile: structures and reaction kinetics

Abstract

Both cholic acid and methyl cholate react to form 1:1 inclusion complexes with acetonitrile either by crystallisation from solution or by solid–vapour reaction. Crystal structures of cholic acid·acetonitrile, methyl cholate·acetonitrile and methyl cholate alone are presented and analysed for strong interactions in an attempt to reconcile the structures of the reactants and products to kinetic data derived from absorption and desorption reactions. Relative rates of absorption and estimates of kinetic parameters, E_a and ln A, for the desorption reactions are presented.