Polysoaps. I. Viscosity and solubilization studies on an n‐dodecyl bromide addition compound of poly‐2‐vinylpyridine

Polysoaps are defined as polymers to whose chain soap molecules are attached. Through the reaction of poly‐2‐vinylpyridine with n‐dodecyl bromide such a polysoap was prepared in which 33.7% of the nitrogens were quarternized. This polysoap exhibited reduced viscosities in aqueous solution which were smaller than those of the parent polymer and of the polysoap in ethanol. The relatively compact structure of the polysoap molecule in water which this indicates is thought to be caused by micelle formation of the soap molecules attached to the polymer chain. This idea is substantiated by the fact that the polysoap acts as a solubilizer for isoöctane in water. Solubilization was measured utilizing the vapor pressure as an indicator for the attainment of saturation. Gram for gram, the polysoap solubilized more isoöctane in water than did the related monosoap, n‐dodecylpyridonium bromide. In contrast to the monosoap, no critical concentration of the polysoap was necessary before solubilization occurred. For polysoap concentrations ranging from 0 to 3%, the solubility of isoöctane was proportional to the polysoap concentration. The efficiency of solubilization over this concentration range was 0.066 gram of isoöctane per gram of polysoap.