Novel economic Synthesis of Benzalkonium Chloride

Benzalkonium chloride is a cationic surface-acting agent belonging to the quaternary ammonium group. It has three main categories of use: as a biocide, a cationicsurfactant, and phase transfer agent in the chemical industry [1]. These compounds have considerable chemotherapeutic properties. They possess antibacterial, antimycotic, antiprotozoal or antiproliferative activities [2, 3]. A highly efficient, two-step method to make Cetyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is described. First N,N-dimethyl benzyl amine was prepared via reductive methylation of benzylamine with N-methylpyrrolidine zinc borohydride (ZBHNMP) at pH 7 in THF. Then 1- chlorohexadecane reacted with N, N-dimethyl benzyl amine in dry ethanol under reflux conditions to excellent yield. After completion of the reaction, as indicated by TLC, the solvent was evaporated and the isolated product was recrystallized from acetone to give white crystals of cetyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. The product was characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis. The Cetyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride was prepared by the general method shown in below Scheme In this work the efficient synthesis of valuable cetyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride from inexpensive and commercially available precursor was described. Excellent yield, simple experimental procedure and easy product isolation are important features of this new protocol to prepare Benzalkonium chlorides..