SYNTHESIS, SURFACE-PROPERTIES, AND HYDROLYSIS OF CHEMODEGRADABLE ANIONIC SURFACTANTS - DIASTEREOMERICALLY PURE SODIUM CIS-(2-N-ALKYL-1,3-DIOXAN-5-YL) AND TRANS-(2-N-ALKYL-1,3-DIOXAN-5-YL) SULFATES

A systematic study concerning the synthesis, adsorption, micellization , and hydrolytic decomposition of new, chemodegradable and diastereome rically pure sodium cis- and trans-(2-n-alkyl-1,3-dioxan-5-yl) sulfate s (alkyl: n-C7H15, n-C9H19, and n-C11H23) has been undertaken, Surface parameters of the compounds under study at the aqueous solution/air i nterface, i.e., surface tension reduction, surface excess concentratio n, surface area demand per molecule, and standard free energy of adsor ption and micellization, show differences both in the alkyl chain leng th and in the hydrophilic, i.e., sulfate group configuration at the 1, 3-dioxane ring. The cmc values are lower for the trans-isomers than fo r the cis-isomers, the Delta G(ads)degrees and Delta G(cmc)degrees val ues are lower for trans-isomers, and the effectiveness of surface tens ion reduction is higher for the cis-isomers than for the trans-isomers . The investigated compounds undergo an easy hydrolysis reaction of th e acetal function, leading to starting aldehydes and sulfated glycerol . The trans-isomers are hydrolyzed much faster than cis-isomers, and n o isomerization reaction of the type cis <-> trans is observed during the hydrolysis process.