A new series of gemini quaternary ammonium surfactants containing amide groups with the formula CnH2n+1CONH-(CH2)(2)N+(CH3)(2)(CH2)(2) N+(CH3)(2)(CH2)(2)NHCOC(n)H2(n+1)center dot 2CH(3)CO(3)(-) (n = 11, 13, 15, 17) have been synthesized by the using green reagent dimethyl carbonate. The structures of these surfactants were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, and mass spectra. Their surface activities and aggregation properties were investigated by surface tension, conductivity, steady-state fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscope measurements. The results show that these synthesized gemini quaternary ammonium surfactants reduce the surface tension of water to a minimum value of 28.21 mN.m(-1) at a concentration of 0.256 mmol.kg(-1) and self-assemble spontaneously into double layer aggregates which are mostly single-room vesicles and multilamellar vesicles. Furthermore, with increasing alkyl chain length, their critical micelle concentration values and the degree of counterion binding (beta) decrease; and the spontaneous tendency of vesicle formation and the micellar aggregation numbers (N-m) increase. They are also found to be effective corrosion inhibitors for A3 steel in acid solution.