Patent ID: 7196221

Claim:
An ionic compound having a freezing point of no more than 50° C., formed by the reaction of at least one amine salt of the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + X − (I) with at least one hydrated salt, which is a chloride, nitrate, sulphate or acetate of Li, Mg, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Bi, La, Sn or Ce; wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each independently a C 1 to C 5 alkyl or a C 6 to C 10 cycloalkyl group, or wherein R 2 and R 3 taken together represent a C 4 to C 10 alkylene group, thereby forming with the N atom of formula (I) a 5 to 11 membered heterocyclic ring, and wherein R 4 is hydrogen, or phenyl, or a C 1 to C 12 alkyl or cycloalkyl group, optionally substituted with at least one group selected from OH, Cl, Br, F, I, phenyl, NH 2 , CN, NO 2 , COOR 5 , CHO, COR 5 and OR 5 , wherein R 5 is a C 1 to C 10 alkyl or cycloalkyl group, and X − is an anion capable of being complexed by the said hydrated salt.