Syntheses and Properties of fluorescent Surface-active Compounds

Abstract

A homologous series of fluorescent surface-active compounds were synthesized. The methods of syntheses were as follows; A series of n-alkylamines of C₄C₁₆ alkylchain, even in the carbon number, was reacted with methyl-acrylate, and the product was hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide.
The compound obtained was then reacted with p-phenylphenacylbromide in ethanolic acetate buffer solution to give C₄H₉NHCH₂CH₂COOCH₂COC₆H₄C₆H₅ to C₁₆H₃₃NHCH₂CH₂COOCH₂COC₆H₄-C₆H₅, all of which were purified by repeated recrystallisation from ethanol.
The products were obtained in a form of yellowish flakes which were identified by IR and UV absorption spectra. The lowering of the surface tension in dilute acid solution was not appreciable for the lower members, while the higher members had strong foaming ability and showed remarkable lowering of the surface tension. All members showed fluorescence.