Corrosion and gas hydrate inhibitors having improved water solubility and increased biodegradability

1. A compound of the formula (1)

where

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 - to C 22 -alkyl, C 2 - to C 22 -alkenyl, C 6 - to C 30 -aryl, C 7 - to C 30 -alkylaryl, —CHR 5 —COO − , and —O −,

R 2 is hydrogen, —OH 3 or —OH,

R 3 , R 4 are each independently C 1 - to C 22 -alkyl, C 2 - to C 22 -alkenyl, C 6 - to C 30 -aryl or C 7 - to C 30 -alkylaryl,

R 5 is hydrogen, C 1 - to C 22 -alkyl or C 2 - to C 22 -alkenyl,

A is a C 2 - to C 4 -alkylene group,

D is a C 2 - to C 5 -alkylene group,

m is a number from 1 to 30,

n is a number from 1 to 18.

2. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 3 and R 4 are each an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 1 to 14 carbon atoms.

3. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R 2 is hydrogen.

4. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein n is a number in the range from 2 to 12.

5. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein D includes an R 6 radical which is a C 1 - to C 100 -alkyl or a C 2 - to C 100 -alkenyl radical which is an oligomer of C 2 - to C 8 -alkylenes.

6. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein D includes an R 6 radical which includes a hetero atom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, and mixtures thereof.

7. The compound as claimed in claim 1 , wherein D includes an R 6 radical of formula 2

where

B is a C 1 - to C 100 -alkylene or a C 2 - to C 100 -alkenylene radical which is an oligomer of C 2 - to C 8 -alkylene building blocks and B is bonded to D via a free valence of an alkyl group at any point on B.

8. A method for inhibiting corrosion and gas hydrate formation, said method comprising adding to a mixture of hydrocarbon and water the compound of claim 1 in amounts of from 5 to 5 000 ppm.