NEW CLEAVABLE SURFACTANTS DERIVED FROM GLUCONO-1,5-LACTONE

New amido nonionic cleavable surfactants were synthesized in good yields by the acetalization of glucono-1,5-lactone with octanal, 2- octanone or 2-undecanone, followed by amidation with monoethanolamine, diethanolamine or morpholine. These compounds Possessed good water solubilities. The compounds derived from 2-octanone showed higher critical micelle concentrations than the compounds from octanal. For the same hydrophobic chain, both the micelle-forming property and the ability to lower surface tension increased with the change in the terminal amide group in the order diethanolamide < morpholide < monoethanolamide. Interestingly, in spite of their relatively short hydrophobic chains, these compounds showed greater ability to lower surface tension than conventional nonionic surfactants, such as alcohol ethoxylates. Furthermore, their acid-decomposition properties were determined. Their decomposition rates were also compared with that of the corresponding carboxylate type of compound derived from glucono 1,5-lactone.