Impact of counterions on micelle formation and polymerization of 11-acryloyloxyundecyltrimethylammonium surfactants

New surfactants based on the cationic monomer 11-acryloyloxyundecyltrimethylammonium with counterions bromide, nitrate, acetate, camphorsulfonate, 4-toluenesulfonate, trifluoroacetate were obtained in this work. In most cases counterions change the critical micelle concentration by 2–3 times (being compared with bromide) except sample with acetate counterions (in this case critical micelle concentration increases by an order of magnitude). Substitution of bromide for hydrophobic counterions (toluenesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, camphorsulfonate) does not lead to expected transformation of spherical micelles to long wormlike micelles. The polymerization of such monomers occurs according to the microemulsion mechanism involving micelles of monomers. •New surface-active monomers with various counterions have been obtained.•Hydrophobic counterions don't lead spherical to long wormlike micelles transition.•The degree of polymerization of formed polymers depend on counterions.•The surfactant with acetate has a maximum CMC value from the studied substances.