Property of alkyltri(oxyethyl) β-d-glucopyranosides

Abstract

Based on reconstructing conventional alkyl β-d-glucopyranosides, alkyltri(oxyethyl) β-d-glucopyranosides (4a ~ 4h, n = 6 ~ 16) were prepared by introducing a tri(oxyethyl) group ((–OCH2CH2–)3) as a hydrophilic spacer to improve effectively the related water solubility. Their foaming performance, emulsifying property, hygroscopicity, solubility, and thermotropic phase transitions were further investigated. The experimental results showed that the phase transition temperature (Tiso) increased with increasing their alkyl chain length. Such β-d-glucopyranosides (4b ~ 4h, n = 7 ~ 16) showed a smectic focal conic-shaped texture. Their water solubility, surface tension, CMC value, and hygroscopicity decreased with increasing their alkyl chain length. Meanwhile, 4e (n = 10) had the best foamability. In the rapeseed oil/water system, 4f (n = 12) had excellent emulsifying property. Furthermore, 4 (n = 8, 10, 12) and SDS or CTAC had the synergistic effect because their experimental CMC value was smaller than their ideal CMC value (CMCid).