Process for the preparation of phosphobetaines

Abstract

Novel process for the production of phosphobetaine compounds, which process comprises reacting a phosphate ester reactant with an amine reactant, to produce an amphoteric phosphobetaine surfactant having at least one phosphorus-containing anion in the molecule, wherein said phosphate ester reactant is of the formula ##STR1## wherein Hal is halogen A is selected from O.sup.-, OM, and --O--Y--R.sup.+ B is selected from O.sup.- and OM' with the proviso that only one of A and B can be O.sup.- Y may be alkylene, optionally interrupted by up to 3 oxygen atoms, of up to 12 carbon atoms, which alkylene chain may optionally be substituted with lower alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy or hydroxyalkyl, e.g., of not more than 10 carbon atoms each; R.sup.+ represents an amine moiety; M and M' are individually selected from (a) hydrogen, (b) an organic radical selected from alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms, polyhydroxyalkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms, glyceryl, cycloalkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms, aryl or arylalkyl of up to 10 carbon atoms, or (c) a salt radical selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and mono-, di-, or triethanolamine, with the proviso that when both M and M' are contained in said phosphate reactant and M or M' is an organic radical (b), the other of M and M' must be hydrogen or a salt radical (c).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.