Alkyl-and/or alkylene oligoglycoside betaine ester quaternaries

1. A composition comprising an alk(en)yl oligoglycoside betaine esterquat corresponding to formula I:

R 1 O(G) n OCOCR 2 R 3 NR 4 R 5 R 6   (I)

wherein R 1 is an alk(en)yl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, G is a sugar unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms and n is a number from 1 to about 10, R 2 is H or a CH 3 group, R 3 is H or a linear and/or branched alk(en)yl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, R 4 , R 5 and R 6 , independently of one another, represent a linear and/or branched alk(en)yl group having from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms or a linear and/or branched hydroxyalk(en)yl group having from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the alk(en)yl oligoglycoside betaine is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.01 to 60% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the alk(en)yl oligoglycoside betaine is present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.05 to 30% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the alk(en)yl oligoglycoside betaine is present in the composition in an amount of from about 2.5 to 20% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein in formula I, R 2 and R 3 are H, R 4 and R 5 represent a methyl group or a hydroxyethyl group.

6. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a co-surfactant selected from the group consisting of a betaine, an anionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof.

7. A process for making an alk(en)yl oligoglycoside betaine esterquat comprising:

(a) providing an alk(en)yl oligoglycoside corresponding to formula (II):

R 1 O(G) n   (II)

wherein R 1 is an alk(en)yl group having from about 4 to 22 carbon atoms, G is a sugar unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms and n is a number of 1 to 10;

(b) providing an α-halocarboxylic acid corresponding to formula (III):

XCR 2 R 3 COOH  (III)

wherein R 2 is H or a CH 3 group, R 3 is H or a linear and/or branched alk(en)yl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and X is a halogen;

(c) reacting (a) and (b) to form a reaction product;

(d) providing a tertiary amines corresponding to formula (IV):

NR 4 R 5 R 6   (IV)

wherein R 4 , R 5 and R 6 , independently of one another, represent a linear and/or branched alk(en)yl group having from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms or a linear and/or branched hydroxyalkyl and/or hydroxyalkenyl group having from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms; and

(e) reacting the reaction product of (c) with (d) to form the alk(en)yl oligoglycoside betaine.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the alk(en)yl oligoglycoside of (a) has a water content of up to 5% by weight.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein the alk(en)yl oligoglycoside of (a) and the α-halocarboxylic acid of (b) are reacted in a molar ratio of from about 1:0.5 to 1:3.

10. The process of claim 7 wherein the alk(en)yl oligoglycoside of (a) and the α-halocarboxylic acid of (b) are reacted in a molar ratio of from about 1:1 to 1:1.5.

11. The process of claim 7 wherein the reaction product of (c) and the tertiary amine of (d) are reacted in a molar ratio of from about 1:0.5 to 1:3.

12. The process of claim 7 wherein the reaction product of (c) and the tertiary amine of (d) are reacted in a molar ratio of from about 1:1 to 1:1.5.