In present study, several isatin-derived quaternary ammonium surfactants with different carbon chain
lengths were designed and synthesized. They were synthesized by alkylation of indoline-2,3-dione
with various dibromo-alkanes, then quaternization with trimethylamine. Nuclear magnetic resonance
(1H NMR, 13C NMR) and mass spectroscopy were employed to examine their chemical structures.
Further, the critical micelle concentrations (CMC) value of surfactants synthesized was determined in
an aqueous solution using electrical conductivity. The synthesized surfactants had CMC ranging from
0.01 to 0.012 mol/L. The antibacterial activity of the titer compounds (3a-3c) was evaluated against
Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli), as well as Gram-positive
bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). The surfactant with a long hydrocarbon chain (12 carbons) showed
activity against all bacteria tested (minimum inhibitory concentration = 1.25-2.5 mg/mL), whereas
those with a short hydrocarbon chain proved to be inactive.