Patent ID: 6863722

Claim:
A process for preparing a cleaning composition, the process comprising the steps of: i) preparing 5-methyl-N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (VI) using a process comprising the step of contacting levulinic acid (I) with an alkyl nitro compound (V) in the presence of hydrogen gas and a metal catalyst, the metal catalyst being optionally supported, and, optionally, in the presence of a solvent; wherein R 3 is C 1 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, C 2 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, C 2 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, C 3 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, or C 3 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom; and ii) contacting 5-methyl-N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (VI) with a compound selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, glycols, glycol ethers, aliphatic alcohols, alkanolamines, pyrrolidones, water, and mixtures thereof.