Raman scattering spectra and molecular conformations of bis(quaternaryammonium bromide)-water systems

The dimeric bis(quaternaryammonium bromide) surfactants, [Br⁻(CH₃)₂N⁺(C _m H_{2 m +1})—(CH₂) _s —(C _m H_{2 m +1})N⁺(CH₃)₂Br⁻, s = 2, 3 and m = 4, 6, 10 and 12, s = 6 and m = 8, 10, 12], have been synthesized and the phase maps of the sm6-8-water, sm6-10-water and sm6-12-water binary systems have been determined (sm6-8 implies s = 6, m = 8). In order to examine the molecular structures of these solid samples and of their dimeric surfactant-water binary systems, Raman spectra of the simple dimeric surfactants, sm2-4 and sm3-4, in which crystal structures of the trans- and cis-type conformations have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, have been investigated, and Raman bands characteristic of these skeletal structures were found in the skeletal deformation region. On the basis of these characteristic Raman bands for the two conformations, it has been concluded that the dimeric surfactants, sm6-8, sm6-10 and sm6-12 also take up a cis-type conformation in the crystalline state. Furthermore, it has been found that the Raman bands in the C—H stretching, skeletal stretching and CH₂ scissoring regions are sensitive to phase structure. Received: 21 July 1998 Accepted in revised form: 9 November 1998