Process for producing betaine/amine oxide mixtures

US6281176A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• ALBEMARLE CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Rebecca S. Cochran · Baton Rouge, US
• Patrick C. Hu · Baton Rouge, US
• Michael S. McCaig · Baton Rouge, US
• Edmund F. Perkins · Baton Rouge, US
• Joe D. Sauer · Baton Rouge, US
• Dustin H. Thomas · Baton Rouge, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 3, 1999
• Grant date: Aug 28, 2001
• Expiry date: Dec 3, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C227/08
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

This invention provides a process for producing a betaine/amine oxide mixture. This process comprises reacting, in a liquid medium, an alkali metal .omega.-halocarboxylate with a first tertiary amine of the formula R.sup.a.sub.2 R.sup.b N, wherein each R.sup.a group is a hydrocarbyl group which independently has from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and wherein the R.sup.b group is a hydrocarbyl group which has from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, to produce a betaine product solution. To the betaine product solution is added a second tertiary amine of the formula R.sup.a.sub.2 R.sup.b N, wherein each R.sup.a group is a hydrocarbyl group which independently has from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and wherein the R.sup.b group is a hydrocarbyl group which has from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, to produce an amine/betaine mixture. The first and second tertiary amines can be separate portions of the same amine. Preferably, however, the first and second tertiary amines differ from each other. In a carbon dioxide atmosphere, the amine/betaine mixture is mixed with hydrogen peroxide to yield a betaine/amine oxide mixture.