One-Pot Synthesis of Cationic Amphiphiles from n-Alcohols and Allyl Alcohols

Abstract

A novel, efficient one-pot method has been developed to synthesize amphiphiles such as N-alkylated/N-allylated triethylamines and pyridinium salts for the first time from n-alcohols and naturally occurring terpenes (allyl alcohols) in good yields. These amphiphiles have got industrial application as surfactants, DNA carriers, and other biological applications. The DNA delivery efficacy and cytotoxicity of N-alkylated and N-allylated triethylamine and pyridinium salts were studied.