SYNTHESES OF NOVEL FLUOROCARBON SURFACTANTS WITH OXYETHYLENE GROUPS

Three anionic fluorocarbon surfactants with oxyethylene groups, sodium H2CH2OCH2CH2OCOCH2CH(SO3Na)COOCH2CH2OCH2CH2CnF2n+1 (nFEOS; n = 4, 6, or 8), were prepared from ethylene carbonate, maleic anhydride, corres ponding alcohols having a polyfluoroalkyl chain, and sodium hydrogensu lfite, The surfactants were highly water-soluble, and their Krafft poi nts (K-p) were below 0 degrees C. The K-p values of nFEOS were lower t han those of conventional fluorocarbon surfactants, sodium bis [2-(per fluoroalkyl)ethyl] 2-sulfosuccinate CnF2n+1CH2CH2OCOCH2CH(SO3Na)COOCH2 CH2CnF2n+1 (nFS; n = 4, 6, or 8). The surface tension at cmc (gamma(cm c)) of nFEOS showed very low values, and the cmcs of 4FEOS and 6FEOS w ere smaller by about one order of magnitude than those of nFS surfacta nts at the same fluorocarbon chain length n. It should be noted that t he introduction of oxyethylene groups enhances the hydrophilicity and micellar forming ability of nFEOS compared to nFS. (C) 1998 Elsevier S cience S.A. All rights reserved.