Hybrid fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon CO2-philic surfactants. 1. synthesis and properties of aqueous solutions

Six different hybrid fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon (F-H) sulfate and sulfonate surfactants, with variations in the relative F/H carbon chain length, have been synthesized and characterized in aqueous solution. These compounds have been targeted for potential activity in densified CO2. Tensiometric data and chemical analyses were consistent with surfactants of high chemical purity. Fluorination in terms of the F/H ratio exerts a strong control over all the surfactant physicochemical properties, including critical micelle concentrations (cmc's) and adsorption isotherms. One of these partially fluorinated surfactants (the sulfonate phi-F6H4) achieves very low surface tensions in water (gamma(cmc) approximately 19 mN m(-1)) more reminiscent of fully fluorinated double-chain compounds. Detailed 19F NMR studies revealed that omega'-CF3 groups can exhibit separate signals for monomeric and micellized forms, hence facilitating cmc determinations. Small-angle neutron scattering investigations confirmed the presence of ellipsoidal or extended disklike micelles, depending on the F-H chain asymmetry. For example, a symmetric hybrid F8H8 generates disklike micelles, whereas chain asymmetry in F8H4 or phi-F6H4 tends to drive cylindrical aggregation structures. These changes are consistent with variations in the surfactant packing parameter caused by the different chain F/H ratios. Hence, adsorption and aggregation are shown to respond in a predictable way to the molecular structure of these unusual surfactants.     

Hybrid CO2-philic surfactants with low fluorine content

The relationships between molecular architecture, aggregation, and interfacial activity of a new class of CO(2)-philic hybrid surfactants are investigated. The new hybrid surfactant CF2/AOT4 [sodium (4H,4H,5H,5H,5H-pentafluoropentyl-3,5,5-trimethyl-1-hexyl)-2-sulfosuccinate] was synthesized, having one hydrocarbon chain and one separate fluorocarbon chain. This hybrid H-F chain structure strikes a fine balance of properties, on one hand minimizing the fluorine content, while on the other maintaining a sufficient level of CO(2)-philicity. The surfactant has been investigated by a range of techniques including high-pressure phase behavior, UV-visible spectroscopy, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), and air-water (a/w) surface tension measurements. The results advance the understanding of structure-function relationships for generating CO(2)-philic surfactants and are therefore beneficial for expanding applications of CO(2) to realize its potential using the most economic and efficient surfactants.     

Interfacial properties of branch-tailed fluorinated surfactants yielding a water/supercritical CO2 microemulsion

We have examined the interfacial properties of several fluorinated surfactants in a water/CO2 mixture with a pendant drop tensiometer and revealed the relationships between the interfacial properties, the surfactant structure, and the microemulsifying power. We employed the following Aerosol-OT analogue surfactants that have two fluorinated tails: bis(1H,1H,5H-octafluoropentyl)-2-sulfosuccinate (di-HCF4), sodium bis(1H,1H,9H-hexadecafluorononyl)-2-sulfosuccinate (di-HCF8), sodium bis(1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl)-2-sulfosuccinate (8FS(EO)2), and sodium bis((1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl)-oxyethylene)-2-sulfosuccinate (8FS(EO)4). To discuss the effect of the fluorocarbon/hydrocarbon ratio in single surfactant molecules, water/CO2 interfacial tension (IFT) of a hybrid surfactant with one fluorocarbon and one hydrocarbon tail, that of a surfactant with a single fluorinated tail, and that of a hydrocarbon surfactant, Aerosol-OT (AOT), were examined. The hybrid surfactant employed was sodium 1-oxo-1-[4-(tridecafluorohexyl)phenyl]-2-hexanesulfonate (FC6-HC4), and the single-tailed surfactant was perfluoropolyether ammonium carboxylate (PFPECOONH4, CF3CF2(CF2OCF(CF3))4COONH4). All of the fluorinated AOT analogue surfactants exhibited an excellent level of activity at the water/CO2 interface compared with other fluorinated surfactants and AOT. With a larger hydrocarbon chain number in the CO2-philic tails (i.e., from 0 to 2), the IFT of the AOT analogue surfactants was increased. The area occupied by one surfactant molecule at the water/CO2 interface, A, and the critical microemulsion concentration, cmicroc, were determined and used to examine the water-to-surfactant molar ratio within a reversed micelle, W0c, of the surfactants. The surfactants that form W/scCO2 microemulsions with a large W0c were found to lower the interfacial tension efficiently irrespective of increases in temperature. To achieve the most desirable W0C, the surfactant needs not only a high CO2-philicity of the tails but also a high Krafft point, properties which induce a low hydrophilic/CO2-philic balance.     

Dynamical and rheological properties of fluorinated surfactant films adsorbed at the pressurized CO2-H2O interface

The dynamics of adsorption, interfacial tension, and rheological properties of two phosphocholine-derived partially fluorinated surfactants FnHmPC, designed to compensate for the weak CO(2)-surfactant tail interactions, were determined at the pressurized CO(2)-H(2)O interface. The two surfactants differ only by the length of the hydrocarbon spacer (5 CH(2) in F8H5PC and 11 CH(2) in F8H11PC) located between the terminal perfluoroalkyl chain and the polar head. The length of this spacer was found to have a critical impact on the adsorption kinetics and elasticity of the interfacial surfactant film. F8H5PC is soluble in both water and CO(2) phases and presents several distinct successive interfacial behaviors when bulk water concentration (C(W)) increases and displays a nonclassical isotherm shape. The isotherms of F8H5PC are similar for the three CO(2) pressures investigated and comprise four regimes. In the first regime, at low C(W), the interfacial tension is controlled by the organization that occurs between H(2)O and CO(2). The second regime corresponds to the adsorption of the surfactant as a monolayer until the CO(2) phase is saturated with F8H5PC, resulting in a first inflection point. In this regime, F8H5PC molecules reach maximal compaction and display the highest apparent interfacial elasticity. In the third regime, a second inflection is observed that corresponds to the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant in water. At the highest concentrations (fourth regime), the interfacial films are purely viscous and highly flexible, suggesting the capacity for this surfactant to produce water-in-CO(2) microemulsion. In this regime, surfactant adsorption is very fast and equilibrium is reached in less than 100 s. The behavior of F8H11PC is drastically different: it forms micelles only in the water phase, resulting in a classical Gibbs interface. This surfactant decreases the interfacial tension down to 1 mN/m and forms a strongly elastic interface. As this surfactant forms a very cohesive interface, it should be suitable for formulating stable water-in-CO(2) emulsions. The finding that the length of the hydrocarbon spacer in partially fluorinated surfactants can drastically influence film properties at the CO(2)-H(2)O interface should help control the formation of microemulsions versus emulsions and help elaborate a rationale for the design of surfactants specifically adapted to pressurized CO(2).     

Optimum tail length of fluorinated double-tail anionic surfactant for water/supercritical CO2 microemulsion formation

The effect of surfactant tail structure on the stability of a water/supercritical CO2 microemulsion (W/scCO2 muE) was examined for various fluorinated double-tail anionic surfactants of different fluorocarbon chain lengths, F(CF2)n (n = 4, 6, 8, and 10), and oxyethylene spacer lengths, (CH2CH2O)(m/2) (m = 2 and 4). The phase behavior of the water/surfactant/CO2 systems was studied over a wide range of CO2 densities from 0.70 to 0.85 g/cm(3) (temperatures from 35 to 75 degrees C and pressures up to 500 bar) and corrected water-to-surfactant molar ratios (W0c). All of the surfactants yielded a W/scCO2 muE phase, that is, a transparent homogeneous phase with a water content larger than that permitted by the solubility of water in pure CO2. With increasing W0c, a phase transition occurred from the muE phase to a macroemulsion or a lamella-like liquid crystal phase. The maximum W0c value was obtained at a tail length of 12-14 A, indicating the presence of an optimum surfactant tail length for W/scCO2 muE formation.     

Low fluorine content CO2-philic surfactants

The article addresses an important, and still unresolved question in the field of CO(2) science and technology: what is the minimum fluorine content necessary to obtain a CO(2)-philic surfactant? A previous publication (Langmuir 2002, 18, 3014) suggested there should be an ideal fluorination level: for optimization of possible process applications in CO(2), it is important to establish just how little F is needed to render a surfactant CO(2)-philic. Here, optimum chemical structures for water-in-CO(2) (w/c) microemulsion stabilization are identified through a systematic study of CO(2)-philic surfactant design based on dichain sulfosuccinates. High pressure small-angle neutron scattering (HP-SANS) measurements of reversed micelle formation in CO(2) show a clear relationship between F content and CO(2) compatibility of any given surfactant. Interestingly, high F content surfactants, having lower limiting aqueous surface tensions, γ(cmc), also have better performance in CO(2), as indicated by lower cloud point pressures, P(trans). The results have important implications for the rational design of CO(2)-philic surfactants helping to identify the most economic and efficient compounds for emerging CO(2) based fluid technologies.     

Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles utilizing hydrated reverse micelles in CO2

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were produced by the controlled hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) in the presence of reverse micelles formed in CO2 with the surfactants ammonium carboxylate perfluoropolyether (PFPECOO-+NH4) (Mw = 587) and poly(dimethyl amino ethyl methacrylate-block-1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA-b-PFOMA). Based on dynamic light scattering measurements, the amorphous TiO2 particles formed by injection of TTIP are larger than the reverse micelles, indicating surfactant reorganization. The size of the particles and the stability of dispersions in CO2 were affected by the molar ratio of water to surfactant headgroup (w(o)), precursor concentration, and injection rate. The amorphous particle size did not change upon depressurization and redispersion in CO2. PDMAEMA-b-PFOMA provided greater stability against particle aggregation at higher reactant concentration compared with PFPECOO-+NH4. The crystallite size after calcination, which was examined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, increased with w(o).     

Water/supercritical CO2 microemulsions with mixed surfactant systems

Phase behavior was investigated for water/supercritical CO 2 (W/scCO2) microemulsions stabilized with sodium bis(1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl)-2-sulfosuccinate (8FS(EO) 2) mixed with various guest surfactants. Only for the mixtures with fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon hybrid anionic surfactants (FC6-HC n), the maximum water-to-surfactant molar ratio (W0(c)) was larger than that estimated from linear interpolation of the W0(c) values for pure 8FS(EO) 2 and pure guest surfactant. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) measurement for the microemulsion revealed that the mixing of 8FS(EO) 2 with FC6-HC n can prevent a phase transition from the microemulsion to the liquid crystal even in the presence of excess water. It was also found from the measurement of water/scCO 2 interfacial tension that the area occupied per surfactant molecule was markedly increased by the mixing with FC6-HC n. The loose molecular packing, probably due to a microsegregation of 8FS(EO) 2 and FC6-HC n, is consistent with the enhanced stability of the microemulsion upon surfactant mixing.     

Effective and efficient surfactant for CO2 having only short fluorocarbon chains

A previous study (Langmuir2011, 27, 5772) found the fluorinated double-tail sulfogulutarate 8FG(EO)(2) to act as a superefficient solubilizer for water in supercritical CO(2) (W/CO(2)) microemulsions. To explore more economic CO(2)-philic surfactants with high solubilizing power as well as rapid solubilization rates, the effects of fluorocarbon chain length and linking group were examined with sodium 1,5-bis(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoroalkyloxy)-1,5-dioxopentane-2-sulfonates (nFG(EO)(2), fluorocarbon chain length n = 4, 6, 8) and sodium 1,4-bis(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoroalkyloxy)-1,4-dioxobutane-2-sulfonate (nFS(EO)(2), n = 4, 8). Visual observation and UV-vis spectral measurements with methyl orange as a reporter dye indicated a maximum water-to-surfactant molar ratio (W(0)) in the microemulsions, which was 60-80 for nFG(EO)(2) and 40-50 for nFG(EO)(2). Although it is normally expected that high solubilizing power requires long fluorocarbon surfactant chains, the shortest fluorocarbon 4FG(EO)(2) interestingly achieved the highest W(0) (80) transparent single-phase W/CO(2) microemulsion. In addition, a very rapid solubilization of loaded water into CO(2) was observed for 4FG(EO)(2) even at a high W(0) of ~80.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Tetrametal Cluster〔Co_2(CO)_6〕〔μ-HC_2CH_2OCH_2C_2H-μ〕〔Co_2(CO)_6〕

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不等链长的碳氟、碳氢正负离子表面活性剂混合体系的表面活性

研究了全氟辛酸钠与溴化十四烷基三甲铵混合水溶液的表面活性. 测定了不同比例混合物水溶液的表面张力-浓度曲线, 得出临界胶团浓度(cmc)及监 界胶团浓度时的溶液表面张力(γcmc)值. 应用Gibbs吸附公式及吸附层中两表面活性剂分子相互作用参数法求出表面总吸附量、吸附层组成及两表面活性剂分别吸附量等. 指示此吸附层具有多分子层性质. 这可能是碳氢、碳氟正负离子混合体系的特点.     

Fluorinated vs hydrogenated surfactants in mixtures with valinomycin—The Langmuir monolayer study

Selected fluorinated and hydrogenated surfactants, namely a semifluorinated alkane (SFA): 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10-henicosafluorononacosane (F10H19), two long chain alcohols: 18,18,18,17,17,16,16,15,15,14,14,13,13,12,12,11,11-heptadecafluorooctadecane-1-ol (F8H10OH) and octadecane-1-ol (C18OH) and with two long chain thiols of the analogous apolar part structure to the above-mentioned alcohols, i.e.: 18,18,18,17,17,16,16,15,15,14,14,13,13,12,12,11,11-heptadecafluorooctadecane-1-thiol (F8H10SH) and octadecane-1-thiol (C18SH) have been tested in mixtures with valinomycin as potential artificial matrixes for its immobilization. The thermodynamic analysis (ΔG^exc vs X_val plots) based on surface pressure–area isotherm registration for particular valinomycin/surfactant mixtures, complemented with BAM images of the films structure indicate that only fluorinated surfactants are suitable materials for valinomycin incorporation as they form homogeneous miscible monolayers at X_val below 0.5.     

含有Mo--Mo四重键的双钼络合物Mo_2(C_8H_8)_3的合成和晶体结构

Mo_2(C_8H_8)_3是由Mo(CO)_6和环辛四烯在正癸烷中回流而制得。它的晶体属单斜晶系,空间群为P2_1,单胞参数为:a=7.772(3),b=11.964(5),c=10.445(2),β=100.33(2)°,V=955(1)~3,根据Z=2和fw=504.31计算密度Dc=1.75g/cm~3。在Enraf-Nonius CAD4衍射仪上用MoKα射线收集了I>2σ(I)的独立衍射点2393个。晶体结构用直接法(MULTAN)程序解出,所有非氢原子的位置参数和各向异性热振动参数经全矩阵最小二乘法修正,最后的偏离因子R_1(F)=0.030,R_2(F)=0.035。分子中钼—钼的距离为2.293(1),形成了Mo-Mo四重键。Mo_2(C_8H_8)_3存在两种晶型;一是与W_2(C_8H_8)_3同晶;另一是与Cr_2(C_8H_8)_3同晶。     

Aggregation behavior of a series of anionic sulfonate gemini surfactants and their corresponding monomeric surfactant

A series of anionic sulfonate gemini surfactants with the general structure of [(Cn H2n+1)(C3H6SO(-)3) NCsN(C3H6SO(-)3)(CnH2n+1)].2Na+ have been synthesized. While the spacer group Cs represents p-xylyl or (CH2)3, the surfactants are abbreviated as CnCpxCn(SO3)2 (n=8,10,12) or C12C3C12(SO3)2(n=12), respectively. A corresponding monomeric surfactant C12H25N(CH3)(C3H6SO(-)3).Na+(C12NSO3) has also been prepared. The aggregation behavior of these surfactants has been studied at pH 9.2 and ionic strength of 30 mM. The gemini surfactants exhibit stronger aggregation tendencies and much less endothermic enthalpy changes of micellization (DeltaH mic) compared with the monomeric surfactant. The critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of the gemini surfactants decrease with the increase of the hydrophobic chain length from C8CpxC8(SO3)2 to C10CpxC10(SO3)2, but the CMC values of C10CpxC10(SO3)2 and C12CpxC12(SO3)2 are very close. The DeltaH mic values vary from endothermic for C8CpxC8(SO3)2 to almost zero for C12CpxC12(SO3)2. Besides, vesicles are observed above the CMC for all these surfactants. The water-mediated intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the tertiary nitrogen groups may assist C12NSO3 and C12C3C12(SO3)2 in their vesicle formation, while the pi-pi interaction between aromatic rings should be another additional driving force for the vesicle formation of CnCpxCn(SO3)2. Meanwhile, the hydrogen bonding, pi-pi interaction, and strong hydrophobic interaction provide the possibility of a multilayer formation for C12CpxC12(SO3)2 and C12C3C12(SO3)2 at the air/water interface, which is a possible reason for the extremely small minimum area occupied per surfactant molecule at the air/water interface for these two gemini surfactants.     

Nonionic fluorinated surfactant: investigation of phase diagram and preparation of ordered mesoporous materials

The behavior of fluorinated surfactant F(CF2)8C2H4(OC2H4)9OH in water solution was investigated, and the preparation ofmesoporous molecular sieves was achieved. A direct micellar phase (L1) and a hexagonal (H1) liquid crystal were found. Small-angle X-ray scattering measurements proved that the hydrophobic chains are completely extended and that the cross sectional area remains constant in H1. At 80 degrees C, materials with a hexagonal array of their channel are prepared via a cooperative templating type mechanism in a wide range of surfactant concentrations (5-20 wt %). Decreasing the hydrothermal temperature leads to the formation ofwormhole-like structure. In this case the channel arrangement is no longer governed by the surfactant behavior but by the silica condensation and polymerization. An increase of the mean pore diameter with heating temperature is noted. This result is associated with changes of aggregation number with temperature. A comparison of the characteristics of the materials obtained with both hydrogenated and fluorinated surfactants is also made.     

Micellization of economically viable surfactants in CO(2)

Stability and aggregation structures of various economically viable surfactants for CO(2) are reported. The compounds are either commercially available octylphenol nonionics (Triton X-100, X-100 reduced, and X-45) or custom-made analogues of aerosol-OT (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123 (2001) 988). These were selected to reveal the influence of chain terminal group structure, namely highly methylated t-butyl units, on solubility and aggregation in CO(2). In addition the mean ethylene oxide block length is varied for the Triton surfactants (X-100 approximately EO(10), X-45 approximately EO(8)). High-pressure small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments revealed the presence of aggregates, consistent with spheroidal reverse micelles. The nonionics show a temperature and pressure dependence on solubility. These results confirm the special affinity of highly methyl-branched tails for CO(2). However, none of these systems were able to disperse significant amounts of water or brine; therefore hydrated reversed micelles or microemulsion droplets were not stabilized. Hence the utility of these cheap methyl-branched surfactants in CO(2) is limited, and so groups of greater CO(2)-philicity are needed to achieve the goal of water-hydrocarbon surfactant-CO(2) dispersions.     

Polymeric sulfated surfactants with varied hydrocarbon tail: I. Synthesis, characterization, and application in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

The influence of surfactant hydrocarbon tail on the solute/pseudostationary phase interactions was examined. Four anionic sulfated surfactants with 8-, 9-, 10-, and 11-carbon chains having a polymerizable double bond at the end of the hydrocarbon chain were synthesized and characterized before and after polymerization. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), polarity, and aggregation number of the four sodium alkenyl sulfate (SAIS) surfactants were determined using fluorescence spectroscopy. The partial specific volume of the polymeric SAIS (poly-SAIS) surfactants was estimated by density measurements and capillary electrophoresis (CE) was employed for determination of methylene selectivity as well as for elution window. The CMC of the monomers of SAIS surfactants decrease with increase in chain length and correlated well when fluorescence method was compared to CE. The physicochemical properties (partial specific volume, methylene selectivity, electrophoretic mobility, and elution window) increased with an increase in chain length. However, no direct relationship was found between the aggregation number and the length of hydrophobic tail of poly-SAIS surfactants. These polymeric surfactants were then used as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) to study the retention behavior and selectivity factor of 36 benzene derivatives with different chemical characteristics. Although variation in chain length of the polymeric surfactants significantly affects the retention of nonhydrogen bonding (NHB) benzene derivatives, these effects were less pronounced for hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and hydrogen bond donor (HBD) benzene derivatives. Therefore, hydrophobicity of poly-SAIS surfactants was found to be a major driving force for retention of NHB derivatives. However, for several benzene derivatives (NHB, HBA, and HBD) significantly higher selectivity factor was observed with longest chain polymeric surfactant (e.g., poly(sodium 10-undecenyl sulfate), poly-SUS) compared to shorter chain polymeric surfactant (e.g., poly(sodium 7-octenyl sulfate), poly-SOcS). In addition, the effect of the surfactant hydrophobic chain was also found to have some impact on migration order of NHB, HBA, and HBD benzene derivatives.     

NMR studies on selectivity of beta-cyclodextrin to fluorinated/hydrogenated surfactant mixtures

The interactions between beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and the equimolar/nonequimolar mixtures of sodium perfluorooctanoate (C(7)F(15)COONa, SPFO) and sodium alkyl sulfate (C(n)H(2n+1)SO(4)Na, C(n)SO(4), n = 8, 10, 12) were investigated by 1H and 19F NMR. It showed that beta-CD preferentially included the fluorinated surfactant when exposed to mixtures of hydrogenated (C(n)SO(4)) and fluorinated (SPFO) surfactants, notwithstanding whether the hydrogenated surfactant C(n)SO(4) was more or less hydrophobic than the SPFO. Such preferential inclusion of the fluorinated surfactant continued to a certain concentration of beta-CD at which time the C(n)SO(4) was then observed to be included. The longer the hydrocarbon chain of C(n)SO(4) the lower the concentration of beta-CD at which the hydrogenated surfactants began to show inclusion. The inclusion process can be qualitatively divided into three stages: first, formation of 1:1 beta-CD/SPFO complexes; second, formation of 1:1 beta-CD/C(n)SO(4) complexes; and finally, formation of 2:1 beta-CD/SPFO complexes upon further increase of beta-CD concentration. In the concentration range studied, during the last stage of inclusion both 2:1 beta-CD/C(12)SO(4) and 2:1 beta-CD/SPFO complexes appear to be simultaneously formed in the system of beta-CD/SPFO/C(12)SO(4) but not in either the systems of beta-CD/SPFO/C(8)SO(4) or beta-CD/SPFO/C(10)SO(4). The selective inclusion of the shorter fluorocarbon chain surfactant might be attributed to the greater rigidity and size of the fluorocarbon chains, compared to those of the hydrocarbon chains, which provide for a tighter fit and better interaction between the host and guest. This latter effect appears to dominate the increase in hydrophobic character as the carbon chain length increases in the hydrogenated series.     

Polymeric alkenoxy amino acid surfactants: IV. effects of hydrophobic chain length and degree of polymerization of molecular micelles on chiral separation of beta-blockers

Four alkenoxy leucine-based surfactants with C8-C11 chains containing a terminal double bond, and one C11 chain surfactant with a terminal triple bond are synthesized and characterized in monomeric and polymeric forms. These polymeric pseudophases are then utilized to study the influence of chain length and DP for the enantioseparations of seven beta-blockers in MEKC. Variations in chain length and concentration of polymeric surfactants showed significant effects on the chiral resolution (Rs) and efficiency (N). A relatively large elution range combined with the highest polarity and aggregation number (A) but the lowest retention time, partial specific volume, and optical rotation generated with C8-polymeric surfactant results in simultaneous enantioseparation of all seven beta-blockers with higher N and R(s). In particular, highly hydrophobic beta-blockers are better resolved with shorter hydrocarbon chain even at higher surfactant concentration, which is unachievable with longer chain surfactant. On the other hand, polymer derived from C11-triple bond provided smaller A value compared to C11-double bond surfactant. However, chiral Rs of hydrophobic beta-blockers are still achievable with the C11-triple bond surfactant with enhanced N and shorter analysis time. In addition, effect of polymerization concentration is evaluated by polymerizing all five surfactants at five times their respective CMCs and 100 mM equivalent monomer concentrations. Polymerization of shorter chain (C8 and C9) double-bonded surfactants at five times their respective CMCs results in higher A values with better chiral Rs and N compared to the same two surfactants polymerized at 100 mM.     

NMR studies of aggregation and hydration of surfactants containing amide bonds

The consequences of including amide bonds into the structure of short-chain nonionic surfactants have been studied. Of particular interest were the possible effects of the hydrogen bonding ability of the amide group on the micellar shape. The aggregate structure and hydration of two different amide-containing surfactants, C7H15CO-NH-(CH2CH2O)4H and C7H15CO-(NH-C3H6-CO)2N(CH3)2, were investigated using NMR diffusometry (pulsed gradient spin echo NMR) as the main technique. Data from experiments on the surfactants, the hydrophobic probe molecule hexamethyldisilane (HMDS), and water were interpreted to gain information about the solution structures, and the results were compared to those on a previously studied alcohol ethoxylate surfactant of similar size, C8E4. Both of the amide-containing surfactants form small micelles within the whole investigated concentration range. At the critical micelle concentration, the aggregates are most probably spherical, and with increasing surfactant concentration there are indications of either a minor aggregate growth or agglomeration of the micelles. In addition, it was found that the presence of amide groups in the surfactant inhibits the intermicellar transport of HMDS, which occurs in the C8E4 system. From measurements on water diffusion in the three surfactant systems, it could be concluded that the surfactant hydration is higher when amide bonds are present.