Patent ID: 7341985

Claim:
In a formulation that is fluid at 25° C. comprising between 0.1 and 99.9 wt % in total of one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of surfactants and wetting agents other than according to formula (I); alkali metal hydroxides; water-borne, water-dispersible, or water-soluble resins; flow agents; leveling agents; pigments; processing aids; defoamers; solubilizing agents; pesticides; plant growth modifying agents; water-soluble film-forming macromolecules; polyols; water-soluble acids or salts thereof; tetramethylammonium hydroxide; emulsifying agents; alkanolamines; organic monoacids; biocides; chelants; detergent builders; detergent co-builders; dyes; fragrances; anti-redeposition aids; sunscreen agents; polymers; oligomers; functional cement additives; sodium chloride; sodium bromide; calcium chloride; calcium bromide; zinc chloride; zinc bromide; cesium formate; hydrochloric acid; hydrofluoric acid; acetic acid; and formic acid; the improvement comprising including in the formulation between 0.001 and 45 wt % of one or more compounds according to formula (I) R 4 OCH 2 CH(OH)CR 2 R 3 ZR 1 (I) wherein R 4 is selected from the group consisting of C3-C30 branched, linear, and cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and aralkyl moieties; R 2 and R 3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H and linear or branched C1-C3 alkyl and C2-C3 alkenyl groups; R 1 is -CH 2 (CHOH) n CH 2 OH wherein n is 0 or 1; and Z is S, SO, or SO 2 ; and wherein said one or more ingredients does not include any component of a pre- or post-preparation synthesis reaction mixture for preparation of any of the one or more compounds according to formula (I).