Quaternized ammonium salts of hydrocarbyl epoxides and use thereof as additives in fuels and lubricants

A method for reducing deposits in an intake system of a DISI (Direct Injection Spark ignition) or PFI (port fuel injector) engine or other gasoline engine comprising:

• contacting said engine with a reaction product comprising a quaternized nitrogen compound, or with a fraction thereof which comprises a quaternized nitrogen compound, which is obtained by a process comprising:
• reacting i) at least one hydrocarbyl epoxide, which is a polyalkylene epoxide that is obtained by epoxidizing a polyalkylene, having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of 85 to 20,000;
• with ii) at least one tertiary amine of formula II:
• RaRbRcN (II)
• wherein Ra, Rb and Rc are each independently a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl radical, or two of Ra, Rb and Rc together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered, saturated or unsaturated, nonaromatic or aromatic heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear at least one further ring heteroatom selected from 0, S or N;
• in the presence of iii) at least one acid of formula III:
• H+A− (III)
• in which A− is the anion of at least one mono- or poly-basic, inorganic or organic, natural or synthetic acid.

A method for reducing and/or preventing deposits in an intake system and/or for reducing valve sticking in direct injection diesel engines comprising:

• contacting said engine with a reaction product comprising a quaternized nitrogen compound, or with a fraction thereof which comprises a quaternized nitrogen compound, which is obtained by purification of a reaction product obtained by a process comprising:
• reacting i) at least one hydrocarbyl epoxide, which is a polyalkylene epoxide that is obtained by epoxidizing a polyalkylene, having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of 85 to 20,000;
• with ii) at least one tertiary amine of formula II:
• RaRbRcN (II)
• wherein Ra, Rb and Rc are each independently a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl radical, or two of Ra, Rb and Rc together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered, saturated or unsaturated, nonaromatic or aromatic heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear at least one further ring heteroatom selected from 0, S or N;
• in the presence of iii) at least one acid of formula III:
• H+A− (III)
• in which A− is the anion of at least one mono- or poly-basic, inorganic or organic, natural or synthetic acid.

A method of reducing the fuel consumption of direct injection diesel engines and/or for minimizing power loss in direct injection diesel engines, said method comprising:

• contacting the engine with a reaction product comprising a quaternized nitrogen compound, said reaction product being obtained by:
• reacting i) at least one hydrocarbyl epoxide, which is a polyalkylene epoxide that is obtained by epoxidizing a polyalkylene, having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of 85 to 20,000;
• with ii) at least one tertiary amine of formula II:
• RaRbRcN (II)
• wherein Ra, Rb and Rc are each independently a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl radical, or two of Ra, Rb and Rc together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form an optionally substituted 5- to 7-membered, saturated or unsaturated, nonaromatic or aromatic heterocyclic ring which may optionally bear at least one further ring heteroatom selected from 0, S or N;
• in the presence of iii) at least one acid of formula III:
• H+A− (III)
• wherein A− is the anion of at least one mono- or poly-basic, inorganic or organic, natural or synthetic acid.