For the first time, two novel surfactants base on the Schiff base compounds derived from 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane, 2-hydroxyacetophenone, and salicylaldehyde were synthesized, characterized, and then used for the preparation of PbTe nanostructures. The surfactant synthesized by 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane and 2-hydroxyacetophenone was marked as [(DaDo)-(2-HAP)]. Besides, the Schiff base derived from 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane and salicylaldehyde was marked as [(DaDo)-(Sal)]. In addition, the effect of preparation parameters like reaction time and temperature in hydrothermal synthesis on the morphology of the PbTe nanostructures was tested in the presence of the surfactants. The products were analyzed with the aid of H-1 NMR, SEM, XRD, FT-IR, and EDS. Based on the FT-IR and H-1 NMR results, it was found that pure Schiff bases have been successfully synthesized by heating the starting reagents at 70 degrees C. According to the XRD results, it was found that pure cubic PbTe nanostructures have been obtained by this method. (C) 2013 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.