Hydrolysis of Surfactants Containing Ester Bonds: Modulation of Reaction Kinetics and Important Aspects of Surfactant Self-Assembly

The effects of self-assembly on the hydrolysis kinetics of surfactants that contain ester bonds are discussed. A number of examples on how reaction rates and apparent reaction orders can be modulated by changes in the conditions, including an instance of apparent zero-order kinetics, are presented. Furthermore, it is shown that the examples on reaction kinetics display parallels and connections to important physicochemical aspects of surfactant aggregates, namely, the "reservoir function" of micelles and the fact that the headgroup region of micelles constitutes an aqueous environment largely distinct from the bulk solution. The examples presented can be used in teaching organic as well as physical chemistry. The text is written with the intention to be largely self-contained, in order to make it accessible for readers with different background experience.