Nonionic amphiphilic compounds from aspartic and glutamic acids as structural mimics of lecithins

Monodisperse nonionic surfactant molecules, based on aspartic or glutamic acid, with two hydrogenated or fluorinated fatty amide chains in the hydrophobic part and one polyoxyethylene methoxy-capped chain (EOn-Me) in the hydrophilic head group have been synthesized. These compounds are structural mimics of natural lecithins. Their solubility in water or in formamide and the surface activities at 60 degrees C have been measured and discussed in comparison with lecithin analogues that contained short chains. The compounds reported in this study showed physicochemical properties comparable with those of lecithins.