Synthesis, Surface Activity and Aggregation Behavior of Novel Gemini Pyridinium Amphiphiles

A series of novel pyridinium cationic gemini amphiphiles, 3,3'-(carbonyldiimino)bis (1-n-alkylpyridinium) dibromides, having octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl alkyl chains were synthesized. The surface properties and aggregation behavior in aqueous solution were evaluated by surface tension, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement. The adsorption at the air/solution interface of all the compounds were quantitative described using the Frumkin model, and the effect of alkyl chain length on surface activity and aggregate behavior was analyzed. It was found that all the gemini amphiphiles possess surface activity and low critical micellization concentration (CMC) values. The values of log CMC depended linearly on the carbon number of the alkyl chains, but the surface tension at the CMC (gamma(cmc)) showed a minimum for the compound with dodecyl chains. Combinations of DLS and TEM observations showed the existence of vesicles with a broad size distribution in aqueous solution. Meanwhile, vesicles formed below the CMC could be a possible reason for the observed deviation of surface tension curves from the Frumkin model.