Properties
Amine oxides are used as protecting group for amines and as chemical intermediates. Long-chain alkyl amine oxides are used as nonionic surfactants and foam stabilizers.
Amine oxides are highly polar molecules have a polarity close to that of quaternary ammonium salts. Small amine oxides are very hydrophilic and have an excellent water solubility and a very poor solubility in most organic solvents.
Amine oxides are weak bases with a pKa of around 4.5 that form R3N+-OH, cationic hydroxylamines, upon protonation at a pH below their pKa.
Read more about this topic: Amine Oxides
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