Aggregation Behavior and Thiol-Thioester Exchange for Cationic Surfactants with Propylthioacetate Side Chain.

A series of cationic surfactants containing the thioacetate group, [CHN(CH)(CH)SCOCH] Cl (C3SAc, n = 12, 14, 16), were prepared and their properties in aqueous solution were investigated by conductivity, fluorescence, and dynamic light scattering measurements. The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of C3SAc decreased to about half the value of the corresponding alkyltrimethylammonium chloride. Thioacetate was eliminated with the addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) as well as NaOH.