Quaternary ammonium salts derived from jojoba oil

Quaternary ammonium salts derived from jojoba oil have been prepared either from jojobyl halides and tertiary amines or from dimethyljojobyl- and dimethylhomojojobylamines and alkyl halides. These salts have special potential as germicides, surfactants, emulsifiers and phase transfer reagents, for example. The jojobyl iodide and jojobyl mesylate react more readily with amines than the chloride, which is consistent with the expected relative leaving group reactivity of the different halides. The nucleophilicity of the tertiary amine, containing one long chain derived from jojoba oil, is similar to that of other tertiary amines containing only short alkyl chains. The salts are thermally stable up to 100–110 C.