Long-chain alkyl esterquats for highly viscous laundry and cleaning formulations

An active composition for producing laundry and cleaning formulations, comprising a mixture of two or more quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula I):

• wherein:
• R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having an iodine number of from 0 to 5, and comprising 14 to 20 carbon atoms;
• R2, R4 are the same or different, each independently selected from divalent, linear hydrocarbon radicals comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• R3 is hydrogen or an acyl radical of a fatty acid comprising a chain length of 12 to 22 carbon atoms;
• R5 is the same as, or different from, R3, and is an acyl radical of a fatty acid comprising a chain length of 12 to 22 carbon atoms;
• R6 is methyl or ethyl;
• X− is methylsulfate or ethylsulfate;
• wherein:
• the amount ratio of the quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula I) in the mixture is a result of one or more amine(s) of the general formula II):
• wherein:
• R1, R2 and R4 have the same definition as in formula I), being reacted with one or more fatty acids corresponding to R3 and R5, in the molar ratio of the sum of all amines of the general formula II) to the sum of all fatty acids of from 0.8 to 1.5.