Quaternary ammonium compounds
Quaternary ammonium groups can be introduced through amine alkylation and are widely studied in contact-active antimicrobial polymers and coatings.
- Functional group
- R4N+
- Also known as
- QAC, quats, quaternary ammonium salts
Overview
Permanently charged ammonium species used in antimicrobial and ion-exchange materials.
Quaternary ammonium groups can be introduced through amine alkylation and are widely studied in contact-active antimicrobial polymers and coatings.
The key materials feature is the permanent cationic charge. When immobilized on a polymer or surface, quaternary ammonium groups can produce contact-active antimicrobial surfaces without relying only on leaching biocides.
Identifiers
- Functional group
- R4N+
- Also known as
- QAC, quats, quaternary ammonium salts
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- C[N+](C)(C)C
Properties
- Charge type
- permanent cation
- Materials role
- fixed cationic site for antimicrobial and ion-exchange materials
Applications
Quaternary ammonium antibacterial polymer coating
A chloroalkane-to-amine route can feed quaternary ammonium functionality, which is then immobilized on polymers or surfaces for contact-active antibacterial behavior.
- Industry
- Biomedical coatings
- Example
- Covalently attached quaternary ammonium surfaces have been reported as contact-active antibacterial materials.
Quaternary ammonium ion-exchange material
Fixed ammonium groups can create cationic sites that bind anions or support membrane transport.
- Industry
- Water treatment
- Example
- Chloromethylated polymers can be aminated to introduce quaternary ammonium sites in ion-exchange materials.
Connected reactions
- Alkylation: Amines → Quaternary ammonium compounds
Amines can be further alkylated to permanent cationic quaternary ammonium groups used in antimicrobial and ion-exchange materials.
- Surface immobilization: Quaternary ammonium compounds → Antibacterial coatings
Immobilized quaternary ammonium groups are studied for contact-active antibacterial coatings.
- Charged polymer network: Quaternary ammonium compounds → Ion-exchange materials
Quaternary ammonium groups can form fixed cationic sites in ion-exchange resins and membranes.
References
- Antimicrobial Polymeric Materials with Quaternary Ammonium and Phosphonium SaltsYan Xue; Huining Xiao; Yi Zhang · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2015
Review-level support for quaternary ammonium antimicrobial polymer concepts.
- Contact-active antimicrobial surfaces containing quaternary ammonium compoundsJoerg C. Tiller and co-workers · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2001
Classic example of covalently attached quaternary ammonium groups for contact-active surfaces.
- Process for preparing physically stable quaternary ammonium anion exchange resins by chloromethylation and aminationDow Chemical Company · US Patent US4207398A · 1980
Supports chloromethylated polymer amination as a route to quaternary ammonium anion-exchange resins.