Storage stable heat activated quaternary ammonium catalysts for epoxy cure

Catalyst composition comprising:

• (a) a base;
• and
• (b) a quaternary ammonium salt represented by Formula (I):
• wherein
• R1, R2 and R3 are independently from each other selected from the group consisting of linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl with 3 to 20 carbon atoms, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy with 1 to 20 carbon atoms and substituted or unsubstituted aryl with 6 to 20 carbon atoms;
• two of R1, R2 and R3 may combine to form together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached a substituted or unsubstituted 5-to 10-membered ring;
• R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl with 3 to 20 carbon atoms and substituted or unsubstituted aryl with 6 to 20 carbon atoms;
• Y is C or N+, provided that if Y is N+, A is O and R5 is O−;
• A is O or CR6R7;
• R5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —OH, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl with 3 to 20 carbon atoms, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl with 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or, if Y is N+ and A is O, R5 is O−;
• R6 and R7 are independently from each other selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, nitro, —NRR′, cyano, —C(O)R, —C(O)OR, —(CO)NRR′, —NR′C(O)R, —OC(O)R, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl with 3 to 20 carbon atoms, linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl with 6 to 20 carbon atoms;
• or
• R5 and R6 may combine to form together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached a substituted or unsubstituted 5- to 10-membered cycloalkenyl, heteroalicyclic or heteroaryl ring;
• R and R′ are independently selected from H, alkyl with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkenyl with 2 to 20 carbon atoms, alkynyl with 2 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl with 6 to 14 carbon atoms, cycloalk(en)yl with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, 5- to 14-membered heteroaryl, comprising 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S, and 5- to 14-membered heterocycloalk(en)yl, comprising 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S;
• and
• X is an anion.