Synthesis and Surface Properties of Novel Carboxylic Ester-Containing Imidazolium-Based Zwitterionic Surfactants: Monoalkyl 2-(3-Methylimidazolium-1-yl) Succinate Inner Salts

Zwitterionic Energetic Materials: Synthesis, Structural Diversity and Energetic Properties

Zwitterionic compounds are an emergent class of energetic materials and have gained synthetic interest of many in the recent years. Due to their better packing efficiencies and strong inter/intramolecular electrostatic interactions, they often ensue superior energetic properties than their salt analogues. A systematic review from the perspective of design, synthesis, and physicochemical properties evaluation of the zwitterionic energetic materials is presented. Depending on the parent ring(s) used for the synthesis and the type of moieties bearing positive and negative charges, different classes of energetic materials, such as primary explosives, secondary explosives, heat resistant explosives, oxidizers, etc., may result. The properties of some of the energetic zwitterionic compounds are also compared with analogous energetic salts. This review will encourage readers to explore the possibility of designing new zwitterionic energetic materials.

Synthesis and Performance of Bio-Based Amphoteric Surfactants

As the global surfactant market continues to expand, there is an increasing need to develop bio-based alternatives in the shift towards a circular economy. This study focuses on the synthesis of polar, amphoteric, amine-oxide surfactants starting from biomass-derived monosaccharides and demonstrating their potential in various applications. The synthesis involved a reductive amination of the sugars with an alkylamine and formaldehyde followed by oxidation to produce N-oxide surfactants. These bio-based surfactants exhibited promising properties, including high solubility, foamability, surface tension reduction, and critical micelle concentration. In particular, N-GalA1.10 and N-GalA1.12 showed comparable performance to commercial surfactants. Furthermore, these bio-based surfactants demonstrated significantly lower skin irritation potential when compared to petrochemical-derived counterparts like sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), making them potentially suitable for personal care products. The biodegradability assessment revealed that N-GalA1.12 exhibited good biodegradation, indicating its potential environmental compatibility. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of bio-based N-oxide surfactants derived from monosaccharides as sustainable and skin-friendly alternatives to traditional amphoteric surfactants, like cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB).