Nonionic gemini surfactants with three hydrophilic heads and two lipophilic tails

Abstract

A novel class of nonionic gemini surfactants and methods for their preparation consist of compounds with three hydrophilic heads and two lipophilic tails of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 independently represents a C.sub.1 to C.sub.22 straight or branched chain alkyl, alkylene, aryl or alkylaryl, or hydrogen, with the proviso that both cannot be hydrogen; R.sub.2 represents a C.sub.1 to C.sub.5 straight or branched chain alkyl, alkylene or hydrogen, (Y) represents ##STR2## wherein R.sub.4 represents C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alkyl or hydrogen and may be the same or different; X represents --(CH.sub.2).sub.a -- wherein a is a whole number of from 1 to 5; --S--, --S--S--, --SO.sub.2, --(CH.sub.2).sub.a SO.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.a --,--O--, --C.dbd.O, or --CH.sub.2 --NR--CH.sub.2 -- wherein R is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 straight or branched chain alkyl, alkylene or hydrogen and x, y, and z are whole numbers of from about 6 to about 300. The surfactants exhibit excellent surface active functionality, low cmc and pC.sub.20 values and provide superior efficacies when combined with conventional single chain surfactants.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.