Synthesis and Surface Properties of a Novel Switchable Bolaform Surfactant

Abstract

A kind of the ionic bolaform surfactant was synthesized in four steps, with 4-nitrotoluene as raw materials. Firstly, bis-(2-methyl-4-nitrophenyl)-methane (BMNM) was synthesized using paraformaldehyde as a coupling agent; then, bis-(2-methyl-4-aminophenyl) methane BMAM) was obtained through a reduction reaction of BMNM; in the following step, bis-(2-methyl-4-p-hydroxy- azophenyl)methane was prepared through diazotization-coupling reaction; at last, Bolaform surfactant was obtained through a addition reaction of butane sultone and bis-(2-methyl-4-p- hydroxy-azophenyl)methane. The products were characterized by IR and 1HNMR. The surface tension and UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of aqueous solution of this Bolaform surfactant were tested. The cis/trans photoisomerization of Bolaform surfactants were studied in DMSO solution at 365nm irradiation, which indicate this Bolaform surfactantis photosentive and easily to control surface activity by photoisomerization.