Synthesis and Properties of Novel Phenylenediamine Gemini Surfactants

In the present work, a two-step method was adopted to synthesize a series of novel Gemini surfactants using N,N-dimethylalkyl amines (alkyl length = C-12, C-16 and C-18), epichlorohydrin, and n-phenyllenediamine as starting materials. The products were characterized using mass spectroscopy (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-1 NMR). Systematic experiments were conducted to evaluate their surface activity, foaming properties, and antibacterial performance. Results showed the critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of the C-12-based, C-16-based, and C-18-based phenylenediamine surfactants were 3.295 x 10(-3), 2.532 x 10(-4), and 3.140 x 10(-4) mol L-1 at 298 K, respectively, with corresponding surface tension (gamma(cmc)) values of 28.24, 31.95, and 35.06 mN m(-1) under the same conditions. The Gemini surfactants showed not only good surface activity and foaming properties, but also demonstrated good antimicrobial performance against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.