Patent ID: 7253289

Claim:
A process for making one or more hydrophobic ionic salts of the structure wherein R 1 and R 3 each is an alkyl moiety, each of R 2 , R 4 , and R 5 is hydrogen or said alkyl moiety, and X − is an anion, selected from the group consisting of polyatomic inorganic and polyatomic organic anions, said process comprising the steps of: a. mixing an aldehyde having either hydrogen or alkyl group substituents with one or more alkyl amines comprising an alkyl moiety desired for said hydrophobic ionic salts to form a mixture; b. adding the acid form of one or more anions desired for said hydrophobic ionic salts to said mixture; c. adding an aqueous solution of an alpha-dicarbonyl compound to said mixture; d. allowing the components of said mixture to react; and e. separating said hydrophobic ionic salts from said mixture.