The cationic surfactants RCONH(CH2)(3)N+(CH3)(3)Cl-, where RCO=C-10, C-12, C-14, and C-16, respectively, have been synthesized by reacting the appropriate carboxylic acids with 3-N,N-dimethylamino-1-propylamine, followed by dehydration of the ammonium salt produced. Reaction of the intermediates obtained (RCONH(CH2)(3)N(CH3)(2)) with methyl iodide, followed by chloride/iodide ion-exchange furnished the surfactants. Their adsorption and aggregation in aqueous solutions have been studied by surface tension, conductivity, EMF, static light scattering and FTIR. Additional information on the micellar structure was secured from effects of the medium on the H-1 NMR chemical shifts and 2D ROESY spectra. Increasing the length of the acyl moiety increased the micelle aggregation number, and decreased the minimum area/surfactant molecule at the solution/air interface, the critical micelle concentration, and the degree of dissociation of the counter-ion. Gibbs free energies of adsorption at the solution/air interface and of micelle formation were calculated, and compared to those of 2-(acylaminoethyl)trimethylammonium chloride; alkyl trimethylammoniurn chloride; and benzyl(3-acylaminopropyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride surfactants. For both processes (adsorption and micellization), contributions of the CH2 groups in the hydrophobic tail and of the head-group to AGO were calculated. The former contribution was found to be similar to those of other cationic surfactants, whereas the latter one is more negative than those of 2-(acylaminoethyl)trimethylammonium chlorides and trimethylammonium chlorides. This is attributed to a combination of increased hydrophobicity of the head-group, and (direct-or water-mediated) intermolecular hydrogen-bonding of aggregated monomers, via the amide group. FTIR and NMR results indicated that the amide group lies at the micellar interface. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.