A series of four sodium α-sulfo fatty vinyl ester oligomers including sodium α-sulfo lauric acid vinyl ester oligomer, sodium α-sulfo myristic acid vinyl ester oligomer, sodium α-sulfo palmitic acid vinyl ester oligomer and sodium α-sulfo stearic acid vinyl ester oligomer were examined for surface activities such as surface tension, foaming power, foam stability, emulsifying power, dispersion effect, solubilization of orange OT. The critical micelle concentration(CMC) was also evaluated. Consequently, these sodium α-sulfo fatty acid vinyl ester oligomers were shown to have a good cohesive power and dispersion effect.

Four fatty acid vinyl esters were synthesized by transesterification between vinyl acetate and lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, respectively. Fatty acid vinyl ester oligomers were prepared from polymerization of four fatty acid vinyl esters in the presence of potassium persulfate in methanol. The α-sulfonation of these four fatty acid vinyl ester oligomer were carried by direct addition of sulfur trioxide. Especially, molecular weights of sodium α-sulfo fatty acid vinyl ester oligomers were measured by boiling point method.