Patent ID: 6908894

Claim:
A composition suitable as a source for making alkylarylsulfonate surfactants, wherein said composition comprises at least two isomers of the formula: wherein: L is an acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbyl of from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in total; R′ is selected from H and C 1 to C 3 alkyl; R″ is selected from H and C 1 to C 3 alkyl; both R′ and R″ are nonterminally attached to L and at least one of R′ and R″ is C 1 to C 3 alkyl; R′″ is selected from H and C 1 to C 3 alkyl; and A is an aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene, and mixtures thereof; wherein: said alkylaryl composition comprises two or more isomers with respect to positions of attachment of R′, R″ and A to L; in at least about 60% of said alkylaryl composition, A is attached to L in the position which is selected from positions alpha- and beta- to either of the two terminal carbon atoms thereof; and wherein further said alkylaryl composition has a ratio of nonquaternary to quaternary carbon atoms in L of at least about 10:1 by weight, when said quaternary carbon atoms are present.