GB788881A - Improvements in quaternary ammonium compounds and use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises compounds of formula <FORM:0788881/IV (b)/1> wherein X is chlorine, bromine or iodine. The compounds are used as bactericides (see Group VI). The compounds are prepared by reacting a p-octylbenzyl halide with 1 : 6-bis-(N : N1-dimethylaminoacetamido)-hexane or p-octylbenzyldimethylamine with a hexamethylene bis-(haloacetamide). The reaction is preferably carried out in an inert organic solvent such as acetonitrile, formamide, nitromethane, benzene, toluene, xylene, isopropanol, butanol and isopropyl ether and at temperatures from about 20 DEG to 150 DEG C. In an example a mixture of hexamethylene bis-(chloroacetamide), p-octylbenzyldimethylamine and acetonitrile was refluxed and cooled, the product (of the above formula wherein X is chlorine) being filtered off and recrystallized from isopropanol. Para-octylbenzyl chloride is prepared by reacting octylbenzene with glacial acetic acid, paraformaldehyde and anhydrous zinc chloride while passing in hydrogen chloride. Para-octylbenzyldimethylamine is prepared by reacting p-octylbenzyl chloride with dimethylamine. Hexamethylene bis-(chloroacetamide) is prepared by reacting hexamethylene diamine and chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of potassium acetate and aqueous acetic acid. 1 : 6 - Bis - (N : N1 - dimethylaminoacetamido) hexane is prepared by reacting hexamethylene bis-(chloroacetamide) and dimethylamine in the presence of sodium hydroxide.ALSO:Bactericidal compositions comprise compounds of formula <FORM:0788881/VI/1> wherein X is chlorine, bromine or iodine (see Group IV (b)) and a carrier. They are useful in water, especially hard waters, in eliminating bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Specified carriers are alkylarylpolyethoxyethanols, sodium metasilicate, sodium phosphates, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulphate and urea.