Five chelating ligands,
N-alkyl-
N-phosphonomethylglycine (
n-CP), were obtained from five alkylamines (decyl-, dodecyl-tetradecyl-, hexadecyl-, and octadecylamine) which were treated with monochloroacetic acid and then with formaldehyde and phoshorous acid. The metal chelates and sodium salts of the ligands were prepared.
The chemical structure of the chelates and the surface active properties of their aqueous solutions were investigated and compared with those of
N,
N-bis (carboxymethyl) tetradecylamine (14-CC) and
N,
N-bis (phosphonomethyl) tetradecylamine (14-PP). It was concluded on the basis of the IR spectral data of the (2 : 1) copper-chelates of
n-CP that the copper ion was coordinated by the carboxylate group of the ligand when the molar ratio of alkali added was 4, and by the phosphonate group when the molar ratio was 6. Disodium salts of n-CP were found to have good surface active properties. The disodium salt of the
N-hexadecyl derivative of
n-CP had the best properties. The copper chelates of
n-CP were also found to be good emulsifying agents of kerosene in water.
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