Preparation of Novel Cationic Surfactants from Epichlorohydrin: their Surface Properties and Biological Activities

Abstract A novel series of mono‐quaternary ammonium salts was prepared by the reaction of fatty esters of methyldiethanolamine with epichlorohydrin in the presence of amine hydrochloride. The ease of the reaction with epichlorohydrin was found to be due to the assistance of amine hydrochloride in opening the epoxide ring and to neighboring‐group participation by the hydroxyl group of the mono‐ammonium salt in the quaternization step. The surface properties of the prepared compounds and their biological activities were measured. The prepared compounds had good water solubility and showed characteristic surface active properties.