Synthesis and Characterization of Lauryl Trimethyl Ammonium Surfactants with New Counteranion Types

A new family of lauryl trimethyl ammonium surfactants of the general formula CH 3 (CH 2 ) 11 N + (CH 3 ) 3 X − (X = CH 3 OCOO, HCOO, CH 3 COO, CH 3 CHOHCOO) were prepared and characterized both structurally and as aqueous surfactants. Lauryl trimethyl ammonium mono-methyl carbonate was synthesized by using dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as the alkylating agent and lauryl dimethyl amine as the starting material. The latter compound was reacted with formic acid, acetic acid, and lactic acid, respectively, to give the corresponding quaternary ammonium salts with other counteranions. They were structurally characterized by IR, 1 H NMR, MS. Members of this family reduced the surface tension of water to 32–38 mN/m at concentration levels of 10 −2 mol/L.