Synthesis of Alpha-Carboxyl Undecylamine Oxide From Renewable Lauric Acid

  Alpha-carboxyl undecylamine oxide (α-amine oxide) derived from renewable laruic acid was prepared via an effective and economic route. The laruic acid derivates alpha-chloro-lauric acid (α-CLA) first reacted with dimethylamine to prepare 2-dimethylamino-lauric acid (2-DMALA), followed by the oxidation of 2-DMALA to α-amine oxide with hydrogen peroxide. Under the optimized reaction conditions, the yield of 2-DMALA and α-amine oxide can reach 96% and 90%, respectively. The structure of α-amine oxide was confirmed through FT-IR, MS, and ¹HNMR. The surface active behavior of the synthesized α-amine oxide was investigated using the surface tension method.