Aggregation behavior of imidazolium-based chiral surfactant in aqueous solution

A novel imidazolium-based chiral surfactant with a Y-type hydrophobic chain, (S)-(+)-1-(2,3-bis(octanoyloxy)propyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride (Bopmim]Cl), was synthesized. The aggregation behavior of Bopmim]Cl in aqueous solution was then investigated by surface tension, electrical conductivity, ¹H NMR, and fluorescence measurements. Compared with C₁₂mim]Cl, the critical micelle concentration for Bopmim]Cl is lower, indicating that the novel chiral surfactant has superior capacity to form micelles. A larger value of pC ₂₀, a greater minimum area per surfactant molecule (A _min), a smaller degree of counterion binding (β), and a looser aggregate are caused by the relatively larger Y-type hydrophobic chain of Bopmim]Cl. Furthermore, analysis of the ¹H NMR spectra revealed that the introduced Y-type hydrophobic chain may prevent the hydrophobic group from forming an extended chain configuration and cause a changeover from trans to gauche conformations upon micellization. The micelles of the novel chiral surfactant may provide some potential applications in the stereochemical recognition of surfaces or of biological structures.