Synthesis and characterization of nonconventional surfactants of aromatic amino acid-glycerol ethers: effect of the amino acid moiety on the orientation and surface properties of these soap-type amphiphiles

The synthesis, characterization, and surface properties of soap-type amphiphiles comprising alkyl chains of 10-16 carbon atoms linked through an ether group to a glycerol-amino acid hydrophilic head group is described. The surface properties of members of this series derived from histidine and tyrosine were compared with those of phenylalanine and tryptophan derivatives described previously and with those of conventional soaps. In all cases, the amino acid derivatives showed superior surface properties, and an interesting differentiation was discovered regarding the orientation of tryptophan derivatives.