In our previous work N-phthalimidomethyl methacrylate (NPMMA) monomer was prepared through the reaction of N-hydroxymethyl phthalimide with methacrylic acid in the presence of N, N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCI) as a condensing agent. Then a new series of copolymers containing imidazole have been synthesized through the reaction of NPMMA monomer with 1-vinylimidazole (VIM) in the presence of benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The copolymer composition was determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and the values of monomer reactivity ratio (r1= 0.756, r2= 1.033, and r1r2= 0.781) were calculated through Fineman Ross and Kelen-Tudos methods. Conversion of copolymers to surfactants was achieved through quaternization of the imidazole nitrogen with dimethyl sulphate. The chemical structure of the produced monomer, copolymers, co-polymeric surfactants was confirmed by spectroscopic tools. The surface properties included surface tension, foaming power, emulsion stability, critical micelle concentration (CMC) have been measured in aqueous medium by traditional procedures. Also the different air/ water interface parameters including effectiveness (πcmc), efficiency (Pc20), maximum surface excess (Γmax) and minimum surface area (Amin) were also recorded. Moreover, the biodegradability for these cationic surfactants has been investigated and their D % was ranged from 67 to 100 %.
