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Insights into the Optimization of Alkyl Phenol/Alkyl Halide Ratio in Gemini Surfactant Synthesis
Author(s) -
Guo LiJuan,
Guo YongJun,
Feng RuSen,
Liu JianXin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of surfactants and detergents
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.349
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1558-9293
pISSN - 1097-3958
DOI - 10.1007/s11743-015-1723-5
Subject(s) - alkylphenol , alkyl , chemistry , halide , molar ratio , pulmonary surfactant , organic chemistry , polymer chemistry , catalysis , biochemistry
Abstract 1 H NMR and thin layer chromatography (TLC) were applied to analyze the component of two series of synthesized sulfonated Gemini surfactants with different spacer lengths (2, 4, and 6 carbons) and hydrophobic chain lengths (9, 12 carbons). Gemini surfactants were prepared by reacting alkylphenol with alkyl halide followed by sulfonation with chlorosulfonic acid. The influence of the molar ratio of alkyphenol to alkyl halide on the mono‐ to diether ratio was investigated and the results indicated that the molar ratio is a key factor to minimize impurities in the target material, due to the high reactivity of alkyl halide. In addition, the results showed that alkyl halide with a shorter spacer group length required a higher molar ratio of alkyl halide to alkylphenol. To synthesize the intermediate Gemini product with 80 % diether content, the molar ratios were optimized using n(alkylphenol):n(1,6‐dibromohexane) = 1:0.55, n(alkylphenol):n(1,4‐dibromobutane) = 1:0.7, and n(alkylphenol):n(1,2‐dibromoethane) = 1:2.5, respectively.