Synthesis and characterization of a kind of nonionic surfactant didodecyl 2-(2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxy-hexanamido) pentanedioate: A green chemistry

A kind of nonionic surfactant didodecyl 2-(2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxy-hexanamido) pentanedioate (DHAD) was synthesized by a green chemistry approach. Instead of use of hazardous and non reuseable catalysts, a highly efficient, easily prepared and environmentally friendly catalyst—SnCl4/C (C1) complex has been developed. This can be reused at least six times with no less than 90% yields without using solvents. The structure of DHAD was characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and 1H, and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and 1H–1H COSY.