Didodecyldimethylammonium bromide

white powder

(Di-n-dodecyl)dimethylammonium bromide is used as a phase transfer catalyst. It is also used as floor disinfectant. Further, it acts as surface-active agent.

Didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) is a double-chain cationic surfactant.
Possible applications:
DDAB can be employed as a co-surfactant to synthesize well-defined multilamellar vesicular silica with an adjustable number of layers.
As a surfactant to synthesize gold nanoclusters and nanocubes.
It forms supersaturated reverse micelles and microemulsions that act as organized reaction microenvironments for the synthesis of barium sulfate.
Calcium montmorillonite can be modified by DDAB through direct ion-exchange to synthesize thermally stable organoclay.

Recrystallise the salt from acetone, acetone/ether mixture, then from ethyl acetate, wash with ether and dry it in a vacuum oven at 60o [Chen et al. J Phys Chem 88 1631 1984, Rupert et al. J Am Chem Soc 107 2628 1985, Halpern et al. J Am Chem Soc 108 3920 1986, Allen et al. J Phys Chem 91 2320 1987]. [Beilstein 4 IV 801.]