Synthesis and surface properties of a series of surfactants based on O-alkyl and O-perfluoro-N,N′-diisopropylisoureas

► O-Dodecyl-N,N′-diisopropylisourea and O-tridecafluorooctyl-N,N′-diisopropylisourea were synthesized from hydrogenated or fluorinated alcohols onto diisopropylcarbodiimide in quasi-quantitative yields. ► Obtaining of isoureas hydrohalides with tensioactive properties. ► The surface properties of both series of hydrogenated and fluorinated surfactants were studied and compared. ► The influence of the counter-ions onto the surface properties indicates the following increasing order of tensioactive properties: I < Cl < Br. ► Fluorinated isoureas hydrohalides exhibited better surfactant properties than their hydrogenated homologues.