Pyrrole-tailed imidazolium surface-active monomers: aggregation properties in aqueous solution and polymerization behavior

Pyrrole-functionalized imidazolium surfactants PyCnMImBr with different alkyl chain lengths (n = 8, 10, 12) were synthesized and their aggregation properties in water investigated by tensiometry conductimetry. These studies show that present lower critical micellar concentration than non-functionalized analogues due to (i) an increased hydrophobicity resulting from the extension of length upon incorporation pyrrole (ii) formation attractive π-π interactions among moieties. The areas occupied molecules are always higher those CnMImBr showing looser molecular arrangement at air-water interface steric hindrance 1H nuclear magnetic resonance measurements have been used shed light on structure aggregates formed. In all cases, is located inside core but for shortest length, it tends intercalate between chains. Micelles obtained PyC12MImBr further as nano-reactor prepare water-stable polypyrrole nanoparticles. For this, we conduct chemical polymerization micelles using FeCl3 oxidizing agent. Polymerization kinetics followed UV-spectroscopy. Combined Infrared (IR) Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurements, confirmed particles about 4 nm thanks presence cationic functions surface.