Alkoxylation Physical properties

The physical and spectroscopic properties of /V-acyloxy-A-alkoxyamides confirm pyramidality at nitrogen and the disconnection of the nitrogen lone pair from the amide carbonyl. The presence of an acyloxyl and an alkoxyl group at nitrogen also results in an anomeric interaction between the oxygens, which is facilitated by the sp3-hybridised nitrogen. Experimental observations, including X-ray analysis are fully supported by results from computational chemistry. 

The production and properties of alkoxylated nonionic surfactants have been reviewed exten-sively. They are produced by the reaction of hydrophobic feedstocks containing hydroxyl or amine groups with alkylene oxides under pressures of 30-90 psia and at temperatures of 100-140°C in the presence of catalytic quantities of basic or transition metal elements. The degree and type of alkylene oxide appended and the blocking or random copolymerization that is allowed to occur drastically affects the physical and performance properties of the resulting nonionic surfactant. 

---