Patent ID: 7057070

Claim:
A method of preparing a quaternary ammonium hydroxide compound having the formula (NR 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 )OH, wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently C 1 –C 4 alkyl; R 3 is benzyl or a C 1 –C 20 alkyl or a C 1 –C 20 aryl-sutstituted alkyl; R 4 is a C 8 –C 20 alkyl, the method comprising the step of reacting a quaternary ammonium compound having the formula (NR 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 ) + X − , wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are as defined above and X is Br or Cl, with a metal hydroxide in an aminoalcohol solvent to yield the quaternary ammonium hydroxide.