OIL-IN-WATER MICROEMULSIONS BASED ON CHEMODEGRADABLE SURFACTANTS AS REACTION MEDIA

The reaction of 2-(p-nitrophenyl)ethyl bromide with hydroxide ion was studied in oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsions at 50 degrees C. The octane-in-water microemulsion systems were stabilized by chemodegradable cyclic acetal-type cationic surfactants as [(2-alky-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl]trimethylammonium bromides Ia-c (alkyl: a=n-C9H19; b=C11H23; c=C13H27) and butan-1-ol as co-surfactant, The rate constants were also determined in the corresponding aqueous micelles and in water, The hydrolytic lability of Ia-c in the microemulsion systems was achieved at 50 degrees C by acid hydrolysis of the 1,3-dioxolane ring. Systematic synthetic studies of the dehydrobromination were performed in order to develop a preparative approach for the product separation without unfavourable process such as foaming and emulsification.