Synthesis and Properties of N-Alkyl–N,N-Dimethyl-N-(o-Hydroxymethyl)Benzylammonium Chlorides

A series of N-alkyl–N,N-dimethyl-N-(o-hydroxymethyl)benzylammonium chlorides surfactants (DHBA-m) were synthesized using o-chloromethylbenzyl alcohol and N-alkyl–N,N-dimethyl tertiary amine as raw materials. The structure of the products was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS. DHBA-m surfactants exhibit low Krafft points and high surface activities. The process of micellization of DHBA-m is spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy-driven. The hydroxymethyl substitution increases hydrophobicity of DHBA-m, thus making micellization more favorable compared with that of N-dodecyl–N,N-dimethyl-N-benzylammonium chlorides (DDBAC-m). The bactericidal activity of DHBA-m is stronger on E. coli than that of DDBAC-12, and DHBA-16 shows strong bactericidal activity on Salmonella, S. aureus, and Streptococcus.