Unprecedented Regioselective Deuterium-Incorporation of Alkyltrimethylammonium Chlorides and Raman Analysis

Abstract

Alkyltrimethylammonium chlorides (ATACs) are widely utilized as cationic surfactants in various scientific fields. Furthermore, deuterium-incorporated compounds can be powerful tools for elucidating the complicated morphologies of molecules with high molecular weights. Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), as a representative ATAC, underwent the regioselective multi-deuteration of alkylamine moiety, except for α and β-positions. Deuteration was performed under Pt/C and Ru/C-catalyzed conditions in 2-PrOH and D2O. The stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) revealed the specific signals of multi-deuterated DTAC in the silent region.