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Quaternary ammonium cation

 

 

 

 

 

Quaternary ammonium cation


 
 




Quaternary ammonium cations, also known as quats, are positively chargedElectric charge

Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some subatomic particles, which determines their electromagnetic inte...
 polyatomic ionPolyatomic ion

A polyatomic ion is an ion consisting of a molecule with covalently bonded atoms or of a metal complex that can be considere...
s of the structure NR4+ with R being alkylAlkyl

An alkyl is a univalent radical containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms arranged in a chain....
 groups. Unlike the ammoniumAmmonium

The ammonium cation is a positively charged polyatomic ion of the chemical formula 4+ and a molecular mass of 18.04, r...
 ionIon

An ion is an atom or group of atoms that normally are electrically neutral and achieve their status as an ion by loss of an...
 NH4+ itself and primary, secondary, or tertiary ammonium cations, the quaternary ammonium cations are permanently charged, independent of the pHPH

pH is a measure of the acidity of a solution, in terms of activity of hydrogen ions ....
 of their solution. Quaternary ammonium cations are synthesizedChemical synthesis

In chemistry, chemical synthesis is purposeful execution of chemical reactions in order to get a product, or several product...
 by complete alkylationAlkylation

Alkylation is the transfer of an alkyl group from one molecule to another....
 of ammoniaAmmonia

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3....
 or other amineAmine

Amines are organic compounds and a type of functional group that contain nitrogen as the key atom....
s. For possible synthesis route, see amineAmine

Amines are organic compounds and a type of functional group that contain nitrogen as the key atom....
s.

Quaternary ammonium salts or quaternary ammonium compounds (called quaternary amines in oilfield parlance) are saltSalt

In chemistry, a salt is any ionic compound composed of cations and anions so that the product is neutral ....
s of quaternary ammonium cations with an anion. They are used as disinfectants, surfactants, fabric softenerFabric softener

Fabric softener is used to prevent static cling and makes the fabric softer....
s, and as antistatic agentAntistatic agent

Antistatic agents are compounds used for treatment of materials or their surfaces in order to reduce or eliminate buildup of...
s (e.g. in shampooShampoo

Shampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, environmental pollution and/or other con...
). In liquidLiquid

A liquid is one of the main phases of matter....
 fabric softeners, the chlorideChloride

The chloride ion is formed when the element chlorine picks up one electron to form an anion Cl−....
 salts are often used. In dryerFacts About Clothes dryer

A clothes dryer or tumble dryer is a major household appliance that is used to remove the residual from clothing and ...
 anticlingFabric softener

Fabric softener is used to prevent static cling and makes the fabric softer....
 strips, the sulfateFacts About Sulfate

In inorganic chemistry, a sulfate is a salt of sulfuric acid. ...
 salts are often used. This is also a common ingredient in many spermicidal jellies.

In organic chemistry, quaternary ammonium salts are used as phase transfer catalystPhase transfer catalyst

A phase transfer catalyst or PTC in chemistry is a type of chemical compound, often a quaternary ammonium salt, which ...
s for reactions involving immiscible solvent systems, such as the synthesis of dichlorocarbenes with chloroform and sodium hydroxide.

The synthesis of this cation from ammonia is referred to as quaternization.

Through exhaustive methylation, or the Hofmann EliminationHofmann elimination Summary

Hofmann elimination is a process where an amine is reacted to create a tertiary amine and an alkene by treatment with excess...
 process, a quaternary ammonium iodide salt is formed. The alpha-carbon (relative to the nitrogen) is deprotonated once by a hydroxide anion from H2O and the electrons form an alkene. Subsequently, the electrons from the carbon-nitrogen bond are pushed onto the nitrogen. This sets up a tertiary amine as the leaving group.

See also

  • CholineCholine

    Choline is a nutrient, essential for cardiovascular and brain function, and for cellular membrane composition and repair....
  • CarnitineCarnitine

    Carnitine, also known as L-carnitine is a quaternary ammonium compound derived from the amino acid lysine and is respo...
  • Benzalkonium chlorideBenzalkonium chloride

    Benzalkonium chloride is an organic compound that is used as an antiseptic and spermicide....
    , a common quaternary disinfectant
  • DenatoniumDenatonium

    |Denatonium benzoate|-| Systematic name...
    , the most bitter compound known
  • Cocamidopropyl betaineFacts About Cocamidopropyl betaine

    Cocamidopropyl betaine is a zwitterionic surfactant with a quaternary ammonium cation in its molecule....
    , a common surfactantSurfactant

    Surfactants are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfac...
  • Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), one of the most investigated cationic surfactant compounds
  • Tetra-n-butylammonium bromideTetra-n-butylammonium bromide

    Tetra-n-butylammonium bromide is a quaternary ammonium salt commonly used as a phase transfer catalyst....
     and Aliquat 336Aliquat 336

    Aliquat 336, also known as methyltrioctylammonium chloride and tricaprylylmethylammonium chloride, is a quaterna...
    , common phase transfer catalystPhase transfer catalyst

    A phase transfer catalyst or PTC in chemistry is a type of chemical compound, often a quaternary ammonium salt, which ...
    s
  • PolyquaterniumPolyquaternium

    Polyquaternium or polyis a mildly irritating and toxic polymer which...
    , designations for quaternary ammonium-containing polymers used for personal care products
  • quaternary ammonium muscle relaxantsQuaternary ammonium muscle relaxants

    Quaternary ammonium muscle relaxants are quaternary ammonium salts used as drugs for muscle relaxation, most commonly in ana...