Alkylation of Ethanolamines: An Approach to a Novel Class of Functional Surfactants

Abstract

Some monomeric and dimeric surfactants with functional head groups have been synthesized from di- and triethanolamine synthons. The treatment of alkyl bromide with triethanolamine resulted in simultaneous N-alkylation and O-alkylation products. However, with diethanolamine, N-alkylated products were obtained, which were further used to synthesize various double-tailed surfactants and gemini surfactants.

Keywords:

• Functional surfactants
• gemini surfactants
• Menschutkin reaction
• triethanolamine

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

B. K. M. thanks the Board of Researchers in Nuclear Sciences, Bhaba Atomic Research Center (BARC), Mumbai, for financial assistance through a research project.