Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 28, 80-86, Copyright © 1987 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Commensurate molecules in isostructural crystals of cholesteryl cis- and trans-9-hexadecenoate
SI Cho and BM Craven
At 295 K, crystals of form I of cholesteryl cis-9-hexadecenoate
(palmitoleate) and cholesteryl trans-9-hexadecenoate (palmitelaidate) are
difficult to distinguish by X-ray diffraction. Both form monoclinic thin
plates, space group P21 with two molecules (C43H74O2) A and B in the
asymmetric unit. Unit cell dimensions for cholesteryl palmitelaidate (I)
are a = 12.827(4), b = 9.075(4), c = 35.67(1) A, beta = 93.42(3) degrees,
very similar to those of the palmitoleate crystals. Other crystals (form
II) of the palmitelaidate ester are described. The crystal structure of
form I of cholesteryl palmitelaidate has been determined from 3657
reflections (sin theta/lambda less than 0.46 A-1) measured at 295 K using
CuK alpha X- radiation and refined to give Rw(F) = 0.095. The molecular
packing arrangement is isostructural to that of the previously determined
crystal structure of cholesteryl palmitoleate. In both crystals, the fatty
acid chains of the A molecules are kinked at the double bond but are nearly
straight. The chains of B molecules have more complicated dislocations and
are bent. It is remarkable that, neglecting their detailed conformations,
corresponding fatty acid chains in the two crystal structures have similar
overall shapes, although palmitoleate chains have cis-ethylenic groups and
palmitelaidate chains have trans groups.