Preparation and Properties of Bis (sodium carboxylate) Types of Cleavable Surfactants Derived from Diethyl Tartrate and Fatty Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract

Bis (sodium carboxylate) types of surfactants bearing a 1, 3-dioxolane ring were easily prepared by the acid-catalyzed condensation of diethyl tartrate [L(+) -, D (-) -, or DL-form] with dodecanal or fatty ketones, followed by alkaline hydrolysis without any expensive reagent and special equipment. The difference in the configuration of tartrates had little effect on the surface-active properties of the resulted bis (sodium carboxylate) compounds. These surfactants showed good water solubility, and they had greater ability to lower surface tension than the conventional sodium carboxylate. These compounds were easily decomposed into nonsurface-active species under aqueous acidic conditions due to the hydrolysis of the 1, 3-dioxolane group.