Rosin,　a　renewable　and　abundant　resource,　has　been　extensively　processed　and　chemically　modified　to　endow　it　with　special　properties,　especially　in　the　surfactant　industry.　In　this　study,　four　rosin-based　quaternary　ammonium　asymmetric　gemini　surfactants　(RGS-2-n)　with　different　alkyl　chain　lengths　(n　=　12,　14,　16,　18)　were　synthesized　using　a　simple　two-step　method　based　on　dehydroabietylamine　as　the　raw　material.　The　feasibility　of　these　surfactants　for　cleaning　purposes　was　comprehensively　evaluated,　suggesting　that　the　surfactants　own　high　surface　activity　and　good　cleaning　performance.　Furthermore,　by　successfully　introducing　the　amine　group　of　dehydroabietylamine　into　the　hydrophilic　group　of　the　surfactants,　we　avoided　its　potential　harm　to　the　environment　and　water　pollution.　Density　functional　theory　proves　rosin-based　gemini　surfactants　with　asymmetric　structure　can　further　improve　cleaning　efficiency.　Overall,　our　findings　suggests　that　RGS-2-n　surfactants　are　promising　and　sustainable　candidates　for　cleaning　electric　plates,　and　provide　new　opportunities　for　rosin　application　in　the　electric　industry.　©　2024　The　Chemical　Industry　and　Engineering　Society　of　China,　and　Chemical　Industry　Press　Co.,　Ltd