Synthesis and Properties of Functionalized Alkylaldonamides

Application studies of novel saccharide-type nonionic surfactants were performed. The homolog series of N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)gluconamides and N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glucoheptonamides (alkyl: n-C10H21, n-C12H25, and n-C14H29) were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by means of elemental analysis and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The investigations showed that the application of N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)aldonamides as surfactants in an aqueous media can be limited. This is because of their relatively high Krafft point temperature. However, some variants can be successfully applied in mixtures with an anionic surfactant: sodium salt of n-dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The addition of SDS causes significant improvement of the Krafft point temperatures. In some cases a synergistic effect was observed, i.e., the Krafft point temperature of the binary mixture was lower that the corresponding values for the solutions containing individual compounds. It is also remarkable, that the aqueous solutions of binary surfactant mixtures were characterized by improved foaming properties, as compared to that of pure SDS.