Patent ID: 8124808

Claim:
A method of transferring a hydroxyalkyl group from an alkoxylated compound to a nucleophilic compound comprising the steps of: a) providing the alkoxylated and nucleophilic compounds, wherein the alkoxylated compound has the formula (R 1 )(R 2 )(R 3 )N wherein R 1 is a hydroxyalkyl group having from 2-20 carbon atoms, and each R 2 , and R 3 group is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and hydroxyalkyl groups having from 2-20 carbon atoms, and wherein the nucleophilic compounds is selected from (R 1 )(R 2 )(R 3 )N, wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are as defined above in all respects, an alkyleneamine, an alkylamine, water and an alcohol; b) combining the alkoxylated and nucleophilic compounds in a suitable vessel; c) reacting the alkoxylated and nucleophilic compounds in the presence of a zirconia-containing heterogeneous catalyst under conditions capable of transferring at least one hydroxyalkyl group from the alkoxylated compound to the nucleophilic compound.