Molecular and crystal structure of a nonionic detergent: nonanoyl-N-methylglucamide

In crystals of the nonionic detergent nonanoyl-N-methylglucamide, molecules are packed parallel in sheets with adjacent sheets being arranged in a head-to-tail fashion; an unusual conformation of the polar head moiety explains why this compound forms micelles whereas the related alkylglyconamides do not.