Synthesis, Surface Property and Antimicrobial Activity of Cationic Gemini Surfactants Containing Adamantane and Amide Groups

A series of novel cationic gemini surfactants, namely 1,3-adamantanedicarboxylic acid bis(alkyldimethyl-3-ammoniopropyl amide) dibromide designated as [Ad-2(amC (n) )] (n = 12, 14, 16), containing adamantane, two amide groups, and two hydrocarbon chains, were synthesized from 1,3-adamantanedicarboxylic acid. The surface-active properties of the surfactants were investigated through surface tension and electrical conductivity measurement. A series of thermodynamic parameters such as standard free energy , enthalpy , and entropy of micellization were evaluated from electrical conductivity measurements in the temperature range from 288 to 308 K. The micellization for [Ad-2(amC (n) )] is entropy-driven at low temperature and enthalpy-driven at high temperature. Further, the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized gemini surfactants against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was also investigated, and this study showed that the compound [Ad-2(amC(12))] has excellent antibacterial activity against all studied bacteria.