Patent ID: 8853454

Claim:
A method for preparing quaternary ammonium cations, wherein the quaternary ammonium cations have the formula: wherein: R 1 is a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having the formula C n H 2n+1 , wherein 17≦n≦30, R 2 is an alkyl group selected from the group consisting of (a) straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl groups having the formula C n H 2n+1 , wherein 1≦n≦6; (b) cycloalkyl groups or alkyl substituted cycloalkyl groups having the formula C n H 2n−1 , wherein 3≦n≦10, and (c) benzyl or substituted benzyl groups, R 3 is an alkyl group selected from the group consisting of (a) straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl groups having the formula C n H 2n+1 , wherein 1≦n≦6, (b) cycloalkyl or alkyl substituted cycloalkyl groups having the formula C n H 2n−1 , wherein 3≦n≦10, and (c) benzyl or substituted benzyl groups, and R 4 is an ω-hydroxyalkyl group having the formula [(CH 2 ) m O] n H, wherein 2≦m≦6 and 1≦n≦4, comprising: taking one mole equivalent of an alcohol, R 4 —OH, wherein: R 4 is defined as above; cooling the alcohol to below 10° C. to give a cooled alcohol; mixing the cooled alcohol with sufficient strong acid, also cooled below 10° C., to give about 1 mole equivalent of hydrogen ions; adding to the alcohol-strong acid mixture a metal halide solution containing about 1 mole equivalent of halide ions in sufficient water to facilitate mixing, and stirring the resultant mixture until it is homogeneous or uniform: adding about 1 mole equivalent to the mixture with stirring of a tertiary amine, R 1 —NR 2 R 3 , wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are defined as above; and heating the resultant mixture to at least 60° C. to complete the reaction.