Process for preparing alkyl pyroglutamic acids

A composition comprising at least two compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula (II):

• or acceptable salts, hydrates, or solvates thereof;
• wherein
• R5 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl, M+, or a polyoxyalkylene moiety having oxyalkyl groups that are the same or different, and where the polyoxyalkylene moiety is capped or uncapped;
• where M+ is a cation forming a salt;
• R6 is unbranched or branched C7-C24 alkyl, unbranched or branched C7-C24 alkenyl, unbranched or branched C8-C24 alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or C3-C8 cycloalkyl(C1-C6 alkyl), each optionally substituted with one or more of R7;
• and
• wherein R7 is halogen, —CN, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 haloalkyl, —NH2, —NH(C1-C6 alkyl), —N(C1-C6 alkyl)2, —OH, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 haloalkoxy, —CO2H, —CO2(C1-C6 alkyl), —CON(C1-C6 alkyl), —CON(C1-C6 alkyl)2, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl, wherein each cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heterocyclyl are optionally substituted with one or more of halogen, —CN, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 haloalkyl, —NH2, —NH(C1-C6 alkyl), —N(C1-C6 alkyl)2, —OH, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 haloalkoxy, —CO2H, —CO2(C1-C6 alkyl), —CON(C1-C6 alkyl), or —CON(C1-C6 alkyl)2;
• and
• of formula (III):
• or acceptable salts, hydrates, or solvates thereof;
• wherein
• each R8 is independently hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl, M+, or a polyoxyalkylene moiety having oxyalkyl groups that are the same or different, and where the polyoxyalkylene moiety is capped or uncapped;
• where M+ is a cation forming a salt;
• R9 is unbranched or branched C7-C24 alkyl, unbranched or branched C8-C24 alkenyl, unbranched or branched C7-C24 alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or C3-C8 cycloalkyl(C1-C6 alkyl), each optionally substituted with one or more of R10;
• and
• wherein R10 is halogen, —CN, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 haloalkyl, —NH2, —NH(C1-C6 alkyl), —N(C1-C6 alkyl)2, —OH, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 haloalkoxy, —CO2H, —CO2(C1-C6 alkyl), —CON(C1-C6 alkyl), —CON(C1-C6 alkyl)2, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl, wherein each cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heterocyclyl are optionally substituted with one or more of halogen, —CN, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 haloalkyl, —NH2, —NH(C1-C6 alkyl), —N(C1-C6 alkyl)2, —OH, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 haloalkoxy, —CO2H, —CO2(C1-C6 alkyl), —CON(C1-C6 alkyl), or —CON(C1-C6 alkyl)2.