Chemistry Letters, Vol.30, No.3, 256-257, 2001
Conformational transformation of nonionic surfactants alpha-decyl-omega-hydroxyoligo(oxyethylene)s (C10Em) in the solid state with addition of water
Conformational transformation of nonionic surfactants H(CH2)(10)(OCH2CH2)(m)OH(C10Em) (m = 6 and 7) in the solid state with addition of water was studied at -20 degreesC by IR spectroscopy. For C10E7, the conformation of the alkyl part adjacent to the oxyethylene chain transforms from trans to gauche with addition of water at about 90 wt% of surfactant. No conformational transformation was observed for C10E6 with addition of water.