NONIONIC AMPHIPHILIC COMPOUNDS FROM ASPARTIC AND GLUTAMIC ACIDS AS STRUCTURAL MIMICS OF LECITHINS

Monodisperse nonionic surfactant molecules, based on aspartic or gluta mic acid, with two hydrogenated or fluorinated fatty amide chains in t he hydrophobic part and one polyoxyethylene methoxy-capped chain (EOn- Me) in the hydrophilic head group have been synthesized. These compoun ds are structural mimics of natural lecithins. Their solubility in wat er or in formamide and the surface activities at 60 degrees C have bee n measured and discussed in comparison with lecithin analogues that co ntained short chains. The compounds reported in this study showed phys icochemical properties comparable with those of lecithins.