Efficient hydrophobic packing, driven by molecular offset within the hydrogen-bonded layers of α,ω-alkanediols and diamines, is allowed by the geometry of the even-numbered members (left in the picture). In contrast, the geometry of the odd-numbered members (right in the picture) forbids such packing and leads to the observed density and melting point alternation.
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Thalladi et al. (2000) studied this question.
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