title: Synthesis and properties of cationic oligomeric surfactants.
abstract: Three series of new oligomeric cationic surfactants were synthesized. These amphiphiles are trimeric and tetrameric oligomeric quaternary ammonium chlorides, with spacer groups of different lengths separating the individual surfactant fragments. The properties of the compounds, such as Krafft temperatures, surface activity, micellization, viscosifying effects, foaming and solubilizing capacity, are studied. The influence of the degree of oligomerization and of the spacer group on the surfactant properties is discussed, in comparison with the analogous standard monomeric and dimeric ("gemini") surfactants. Typically, the evolution of the properties observed from standard to dimeric surfactants progresses with the trimers and tetramers, resulting for instance in extremely low critical micellization concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Chemie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 25, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany. laschews@rz.uni-potsdam.de
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laschewsky
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wattebled
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arotçaréna
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Habib-Jiwan
authors.forename: Rivo H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Rakotoaly