Reaction products of amino acids with monooxirane compounds for corrosion inhibition

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of reaction products of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound for reducing surface corrosion. Moreover, the present invention also relates to specific reaction products of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound and to a process for producing these compounds.

Description

[0001] 231078 1 DESCRIPTION REACTION PRODUCTS OF AMINO ACIDS WITH MONOOXIRANE COMPOUNDS FOR CORROSION INHIBITION The present invention relates to the use of reaction products of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound for reducing surfaces corrosion, for example in applications such as water treat- ment, industrial cleaning and especially in automatic dishwashing (ADW). Moreover, the present invention also relates to specific reaction products of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound and to a process for producing these compounds. Modem cleaning compositions for automatic dishwashing (ADW compositions) need to meet many re- quirements. In addition to a good cleaning effect for hard surfaces such as glass, porcelain and metal un- der the different cleaning conditions in a dishwasher, they must be able to cope with water of different de- grees of hardness, and at the same time provide excellent results with respect to spotting and filming and should not adversely affect the surface of the tableware and cutlery in terms of surface corrosion. Moreo- ver, ADW compositions need to be environmentally friendly. Typically, ADW compositions contain complexing agents for reducing water hardness. While previously phosphates and polyphosphates, e. g. sodium tripolyphosphate, were used for reducing water-hardness, such phosphates and polyphosphates have to be replaced by non-phosphate complexing agents for eco- logical reasons. Depending on the non-phosphate complexing agents, automatic dishwashing compositions can lead to corrosion of machine parts (metal corrosion), corrosion of metal dishes and of the surface of glasses. While (poly)aminocarboxylates are powerful complexing agents, they cause or at least contribute to sur- face corrosion of glass and metal surfaces under the condition of automatic dishwashing. Typical (poly)aminocarboxylates which cause corrosion of glass and metal surfaces include methylglycine N,N- diacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), ethylenediamine-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and the salts thereof. These chelating agents show detrimental effects on metal and glass. Moreover the problem of metal corrosion could become even more severe when commonly used phosphate and phosphonate co- builders, e. g. hydroxyalkyl phosphonates such as 1-hydroxyethane 1,1-diphosphonate, have to be re- placed and / or reduced in formulations due to ecological reasons. Surface corrosion, in particular corrosion of glass surfaces, including decorated glass, and ceramic surfaces, such as porcelain and decorated porcelain surfaces, may also be caused by the high alkalinity of the machine dishwashing compositions. Some widely used chemistry for inhibition of metal corrosion are benzotriazoles (BTA) and tolyltriazoles (TTA). However, triazole-based components such as BTA and TTA, are considered as substances of con- cern and now known to have a potential risk in respect of a endocrinic disruptor, which might lead to a ban of BTA, TTA and derivatives thereof. 231078 2 WO 2021 / 170637 A1 suggests replacing benzotriazoles (BTA) in ADW compositions by imidazole-based compounds selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted imidazole compounds and unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted benzimidazole compounds, or a salt of such imidazole-based compounds. WO 2013 / 160132 A1 describes solid detergent compositions, in particular ADW compositions, containing at least one (poly)aminocarboxylate, such as GLDA or MGDA, at least one cationic (co)polymer based on a polyalkylene imine with a specific cationic charge density and at least one silicate, such as sodium sili- cates. The compositions provide for low glass corrosion in automatic dishwashing. Reaction products of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound have been occasion- ally described, e. g. in EP633243A1, WO 2013 / 063468 A1 and by Ghosh et al. Langmuir 2009, 25(15), 8466-8472. EP633243A1 mentions that some of these reaction products can be used as detergents. How- ever, these reaction products have not been suggested for use in ADW compositions and especially their use as corrosion inhibiters remained unrecognized so far. There is an ongoing need to provide means for corrosion inhibition that are sustainable, non-toxic, envi- ronmentally safe and effective in inhibiting corrosion of both metal and glass surfaces in applications such as especially, but not limited to, automatic dishwashing, in particular of corrosion caused by high alkalinity, builder and bleaching systems as well as by non-phosphate complexing agents, in particular complexing agents from the group of (poly)aminocarboxylates. Especially, it is aimed to provide such means for corro- sion inhibition to replace corrosion inhibitors BTA and TTA which are considered as substances of con- cern, suspected to be endocrine disruptors. Ideally, such means should be bio-based and biodegradable. It was found that these and further objectives are achieved by the reaction products of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound, as described herein. Therefore, a first aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the reaction products of an amino acid or the salt thereof with a monooxirane compound, as described herein, for reducing surfaces corrosion. The first aspect of the present invention especially relates to the use of said reaction products for reducing surface corrosion in applications such as water treatment, industrial cleaning and preferably in an automatic dishwashing process, in particular for reducing surface corrosion of glass surfaces, including decorated glass surfaces and non-decorated glass surfaces, ceramic surfaces, such as porcelain and decorated porcelain surfaces, and / or metal surfaces, in particular of both metal and glass surfaces. In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for reducing surfaces corrosion in a process where surface corrosion may occur, in particular in a water treatment process, in an industrial cleaning process or, especially, in an automatic dishwashing process, which comprises carrying out the process in the presence of a reaction product of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound. In particular, the second aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing surfaces corrosion of metal and / or glass surfaces, especially of both metal and glass surfaces, in applications such as water treatment, industrial cleaning and, especially, in an automatic dishwashing process. 231078 3 In particular, the first and second aspect of the present invention relate to uses and methods for reducing surfaces corrosion in processes where surface corrosion may occur, such as in a water treatment process, in an industrial cleaning process or, especially, in an automatic dishwashing process, where the surfaces corrosion is caused by high alkalinity, builder and bleaching systems as well as by non-phosphate complexing agents, in particular by non-phosphate complexing agents of the group of (poly)aminocarboxylates. Especially, the first and second aspect of the present invention relate to uses and methods for reducing surfaces corrosion of metal and / or glass surfaces, in particular of both metal and glass surfaces, in an automatic dishwashing process where the surfaces corrosion is caused by high alkalinity, builder and bleaching systems as well as by non-phosphate complexing agents, in particular by non-phosphate complexing agents of the group of (poly)aminocarboxylates. Specific reaction products of an amino acid or the salt thereof with a monooxirane compound, namely those of the formulae (Ia), (I’-a) and (I’-b) and the salts thereof, are novel and form a further aspect of the invention: 231078 4 wherein x is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y is 0 or 1; z is 0, 1 or 2; R1in formulae (I‘-a) and (I’-b) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl, which is optionally substituted by COOX, C2-10-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Ra; R1and R2in formula (Ia) together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsatu- rated ring which may have a further heteroatom selected from O, N and S, where the 5 or 6-mem- bered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6-alkyl substituents; R3in formula (I‘-a) and (I’-b) is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, C6-12-aryl and CHRx-O-Ry, where Rxis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl; Ryis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; preferably Ryis selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20- alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl, preferably R4is selected from the group consisting of C1-4-alkyl; R5is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubsti- tuted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; preferably R5is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubsti- tuted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; Rais selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-C4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; Rdis selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkali metal ions. Here and in the following, the term “monooxirane” refers to a compound containing only one epoxide functional group and the terms “epoxy”, “epoxide”, “oxirane”, and “ethoxyline” are used synonymously Here and in the following, the term “metal surface” relates in particular to copper surfaces, copper alloy surfaces, silver surfaces, steel surfaces, stainless steel surfaces and aluminium or aluminum alloy surfaces. Here and in the following, the terms “reducing surface corrosion” and “inhibiting surface corrosion” are used synonymously. 231078 5 Here the term “non-phosphate complexing agent” refers to a complexing agent, in particular to a non- polymeric complexing agent, which does not contain phosphate groups. Generally, the meaning of the term “comprising” is to be interpreted as encompassing all the specifically mentioned features as well optional, additional, unspecified ones, whereas the term “consisting of” includes only those features as specified. All percentages indicated are given in percent by weight, calculated on the total weight of the respective formulation. It is moreover intended that in each actual case the sum of all of the percentages of the specified and unspecified constituents of a formulation is always 100%. In the context of the present invention, the term “ADW formulation” refers to a cleaning formulation for au- tomatic dishwashing. The terms “cleaning formulation” and “cleaning composition” are used synonymously and may refer to single dose formulations / compositions and free dosage formulations / compositions. In the context of the present invention, the terms used generically are, unless otherwise stated, defined as follows: Here and throughout the specification, the prefixes “Cn-m” used in connection with compounds or molecu- lar moieties each indicate a range for the number of possible carbon atoms that a molecular moiety or a compound can have. The term "C1-n-alkyl" (also termed C1-Cn-alkyl) denominates a group of linear or branched saturated non-cyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to n carbon atoms. AlkyI and also all alkyl moieties in radicals derived therefrom, such as e.g. alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, refers to saturated, straight-chain or branched non-cyclic hydrocarbon radicals having x to y carbon atoms, as de- noted in Cx-y(also denoted as Cx-Cy-alkyl). For example, the term “C1-4-alkyl” (or “C1-C4-alkyl”) denominates a group of linear or branched saturated non-cyclic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of C1-4-alkyl are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl) and 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl). The term C1-6-alkyl (or “C1-C6-alkyl”) denotes a linear or branched alkyl radical comprising 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, n-butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-di- methylethyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n- hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpen- tyl, 1,1-dimethyl butyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dime- thylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl and 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl. The term C1-10-alkyl (or “C1-C10-alkyl”) denominates a group of linear or branched saturated non-cyclic hy- drocarbon radicals having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Examples of such alkyl include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert- butyl), n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 231078 6 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethyl- butyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl- 2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, isononyl and n-decyl. The term C1-20-alkyl (or “C1-C20-alkyl”) denominates a group of linear or branched saturated non-cyclic hy- drocarbon radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of such alkyl include, but are not limited to methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert- butyl), n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethyl- butyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl- 2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, n-decyl, n-un- decyl, isoundecyl, n-dodecyl, isododecyl, n-tridecyl, isotridecyl, n-tetradecyl, isotetradecyl, n-pentadecyl, isobentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, isohexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, isoheptadecyl, n-octadecyl, isooctadecyl, n-non- adecyl, isononadecyl, n-eicosyl and isoeicosyl. The term alkenyl denotes mono- or poly-, in particular monounsaturated, straight-chain or branched non- cyclic hydrocarbon radicals having x to y carbon atoms, as denoted in Cx-y and a double bond in any de- sired position. Examples of C2-6-alkenyl, C2-4-alkenyl, C2-10-alkenyl or C2-20-alkenyl include, but are not lim- ited to ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, 1-methylethenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-methyl-1-pro- penyl, 2-methyl-1-propenyl, 1-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-1-butenyl, 2-methyl-1-butenyl, 3-methyl-1-butenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl- 2- butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2-methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2- propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 1-hex- enyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-methyl-1-pentenyl, 2-me- thyl-1-pentenyl, 3-methyl-1- pentenyl, 4-methyl-1-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2- pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl-3-pentenyl, 3-me- thyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl- 4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,1- dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-1- butenyl, 1 ,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-1- butenyl, 1-ethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl-1-butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-butenyl, 1,1,2- trimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-1-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-2-pro- penyl, heptenyl, 3-methylhexenyl, octenyl, 3-methylheptenyl, nonenyl, 4-methyloctenyl, decenyl, unde- cenyl, 3-ethylnonenyl, dodecenyl, 4-ethyldecenyl, tridecenyl, 4-propyldecenyl, 5-methyltridecenyl, tetrade- cenyl, pentadecenyl, hexadecenyl, heptadecenyl, 5-methylhexadecenyl, 6-ethylpentadecenyl, 4- propyltetradecenyl, octadecenyl, 6-ethylheptadecenyl, nonadecenyl, 7-methyloctadecenyl and eicosenyl. Each double bond in the alkenyl moiety can independently of each other be present in the E- or the Z-con- figuration. 231078 7 The term C6-12-aryl denotes carbocyclic aromatic radicals having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. Examples thereof include, but are not limiting to phenyl, naphthyl, fluorenyl, azulenyl, anthracenyl and phenanthrenyl. The term C1-4-alkylsulfanyl refers to a group of linear or branched saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and bonded to a hydrosulfide radical. Examples of C1-4-alkylsulfanyl include, but are not limited to methylsulfanyl, ethylsulfanyl, propylsulfanyl and butylsulfanyl. The reaction products are generally obtainable by epoxide ring-openings of a monooxirane compound with different amino acids. Generally, any amino acid or any salt thereof is suitable as a starting material for the reaction productions, because the amino group of the amino acid is capable of undergoing an epoxide ring opening reaction with a monooxirane compound. Examples of amino acid or salt thereof are α-amino acids, β-amino acids and γ-amino acids, and salts thereof, including cyclic amino acids. Suitable amino acids can be described by the following formula (II) where x is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y is 0 or 1; R1is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl, which is optionally substituted by COOX, C2-10-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Ra; R2is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl group which is optionally substituted by one of the following groups: guanidino, carboxamide, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfhydryl, imidazolyl, amino, C1-C4-alkylsulfanyl, C6-12-aryl, in particular phenyl, which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rb, or hetaryl, such as imidazolyl or indolyl, or R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N may alternatively form a 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially un- saturated ring which may have a further heteroatom selected from O, N and S as ring member, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6alkyl sub- stituents. These amino acids can be present under the D form or, preferably, under the L form or the D, L form. Suitable α-amino acids and salts thereof may, for example, be glycine, N-methylglycine (sarcosine), imino- diacetic acid, alanine, N-methyl-alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, proline, thioproline, hy- droxyproline, nipecotic acid, isonipecotic acid, phenylalanine, tryptophan, asparagine, glutamine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine, selenocysteine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine, histidine, pipe- colic acid, ectoine (2-methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid). 231078 8 Suitable β-amino acids and salts thereof may, for example, be β-alanine, β-leucine, β-lysine, β-arginine, β- glutamate, β-glutamine, β-phenylalanine and β-tyrosine. Suitable γ-amino acids and salts thereof may, for example, be γ-aminobutyric acid. Preferably, amino acids are biogenic amino acids. In this case, they are in particular selected from the group consisting of alanine, N-methyl-L-alanine, L-proline, L-thioproline, trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, D- and L-pipecolinic acid, L-cysteine, N-methylglycine (sarcosine), iminodiacetic acid, nipecotic acid, iso-nipecotic acid, leucine, isoleucine, valin, L-methionine, ectoine (2-methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid), and salts thereof. In particular, amino acids are selected from the group consisting of N-methylglycine (sarcosine), iminodi- acetic acid, L-proline, L-thioproline, L-cysteine, pipecolic acid, ectoine (2-methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimi- dine-4-carboxylic acid), nipecotic acid, isonipecotic acid, L-methionine, and salts thereof. Especially, amino acids are selected from the group consisting of L-cysteine, L-thioproline, and salts thereof. A compound containing one epoxide functional group is called an monooxirane. Generally, any monooxirane compound is suitable as they are capable of undergoing an epoxide ring opening with the amino group of the amino acid or a salt thereof. Suitable monooxirane compounds are in particular compounds of the formula (A) wherein R6, R7, R8and R9are, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of hydro- gen, C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl where C1-20alkyl, C2-10-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl are, independently of each other, unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Re, where Reis selected from C1-20-alkyl, =O, O-Rf, O-C(O)-C1-20-alkyl and C(O)O-Rf, where Rfis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rdas defined in the context of formula (Ia), 231078 9 where two of R6, R7, R8and R9together with the carbon atoms, to which they are bound, may alternatively form a 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring which may have a further heteroatom se- lected from O, N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents. Preferred monooxirane compounds are the compounds of the formula (A), wherein R6, R7, R8and R9are, independently of each other, selected from the group consisting of hydro- gen and C1-20alkyl where C1-20alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Re,. In particular, the monooxirane compound is selected from the compounds of the formula (A), wherein three of R6, R7, R8and R9are hydrogen and the fourth being C1-20alkyl, where C1-20alkyl is substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Re. More particularly, the monooxirane compound is selected from glycidyl ethers, i. e. compounds of the for- mula (A), where R7, R8and R9are hydrogen and where R6is a C1-20 alkyl or a radical of the formula CHR4-O-R5, where R4and R5are as defined in the context of the for- mula (Ia). Especially, the monooxirane compound is selected from 1,2-epoxydodecane, dodecyl and tetradecyl glyc- idyl ether. The phase transfer catalysts employed in the epoxide ring-openings of a monooxirane compound with an amino acid can be those described in W. P. Weber, G. W. Gorel "Phase Transfer Catalysis in Organic Synthesis"--Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New-York (1977); C. M. Starks, C. Liotta "Phase Transfer Catalysis. Principles and Techniques"-Academic Press, New York, San Francisco, London (1978); or E. V. Dehmlow, E. S. Dehmlow "Phase Transfer Catalysis"--VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim (1980 and 1983). Preferably, the phase transfer catalyst is a quaternary ammonium compound, such as a hydroxide or halide of a quaternary ammonium compound, such as the hydroxide, the bromides and chlorides of te- tralkylammonium or of trialkylaryl-ammonium. Such compounds are particularly selected from the group consisting of didodecyldimethyl-ammonium bromide, trioctylmethylammonium chloride, dodecyldime- thylbenzyl-ammonium bromide, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) and tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBACl), especially selected from the group consisting of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) and tet- rabutylammonium chloride (TBACl). The phase transfer catalyst can also be an organic derivative of phos- phonium ion, such as the halides of tetralkyl phosphonium, tetra-aryl phosphonium or triarylalkyl phospho- nium. Such compounds are particularly selected from the group consisting of bromides or chlorides of tet- rabutyl phosphonium, tetraphenyl phosphonium, triphenylmethyl phosphonium and tetrabutyl phospho- nium. The weight content of the phase transfer catalyst employed is typically in the range of 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 9% by weight, in particular 1 to 8% by weight, especially 2 to 7% by weight, of the amino acid. The reaction between the amino acid and the monooxirane compound can optionally be carried out in the presence of a solvent, which is preferably water, for example, water in which the amino acid can be dis- solved. The concentration of the amino acid in the reaction medium is typically in the range of 0.5 to 60 mol / L, preferably in the range of 1 and 20 mol / L, in particular in the range of 2 to 15 mol / L, especially in the range of 5 to 10 mol / L. Typically, the reaction is carried out in the presence of a mineral base selected from the group consisting of LiOH, Na2CO3, NaHCO3, KHCO3, K2CO3, NH4OH, preferably KOH and NaOH. In particular, the base is KOH. The molar ratio between the amino acid and the base ranges typically in the range of 0.5 to 5 and, prefera- bly, is on the order of about 1. The molar ratio between the compound containing a hydroxy function and the amino acid is typically in the range of 0.5 to 10, and preferably in the range of 0.8 to 1.20. The epoxide ring-openings of a monooxirane compound with an amino acid is typically carried out at a temperature greater than 90 °C, preferably at a temperature in the range of 95 °C to 160 °C, in particular in the range of 95 °C and 125 °C, especially in the range of 97 °C to 110 °C. This reaction is generally carried out at atmospheric pressure or a temperature which is close to atmospheric pressure. Typically, the reaction product comprises a compound of the formula (I) where x is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y is 0 or 1; R1is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl, which is optionally substituted by COOX, C2-10-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Ra; R2is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl group which is optionally substituted by one of the following groups: guanidino, carboxamide, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfhydryl, imidazolyl, amino, C1-C4-alkylsulfa- nyl, C6-12-aryl, in particular phenyl, which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rb, or hetaryl, such as imidazolyl or indolyl, and a radical CH2-S-CH2-CH(OH)-R3; 11 R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N may alternatively form a 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially un- saturated ring which may have a further heteroatom selected from O, N and S, where the 5 or 6- membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents; R3is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, C6-12-aryl and CHR4-O-R5; R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl, preferably R4is selected from the group consisting of C1-4-alkyl; R5is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubsti- tuted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; preferably R5is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubsti- tuted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkali metal ions, and where Ra, Rb, Rdindependently of each other are selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl. In case of a reaction product of an amino acid of the formula (I), where R2is (CH2)z-SH, such as cysteine, the following reaction products of the formulae (I’-a) and (I’-b) may form instead or as a mixture with the compound of the formula (I): 231078 12 In formulae (I’-a) and (I’-b) x is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y is 0 or 1; z is 0, 1 or 2; R1is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl, which is optionally substituted by COOX, C2-10-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substit- uents Ra; R3is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, C6-12-aryl and CHRx-O-Ry; Rxis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl; Ryis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; Preferably Ryis selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkali metal ions, and where Ra, Rdindependently of each other are selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl. In formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) x and y preferably have the following meanings: x is 0 and y is 0, or x is 1 and y is 0, or x is 2 and y is 0. In formulae (I’-a) and (I’-b) z is preferably 1. In formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) the variable (I) R1is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydro- gen, C1-10-alkyl, which is optionally substituted by COOX and C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 sub- stituents Ra, where Rais selected from OH and C1-4-alkyl and X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkali metal ions, in particular potassium ion. In formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) the variable R1is in particular selected from the group consisting of hydro- gen, C1-6-alkyl, which is unsubstituted. In formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) the variableR1is especially either hydrogen or C1-alkyl, which is unsubsti- tuted. 231078 13 Suitable examples of R1of the formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) include, but are not limited to - hydrogen; - unsubstituted C1-10-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methyl- butyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpro- pyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dime- thylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl and decyl; - C1-10-alkyl substituted by COOX such as carboxymethyl, carboxyethyl, carboxypropyl, carboxy- butyl, carboxypentyl, carboxyhexyl, carboxyheptyl, carboxyoctyl, carboxynonyl, carboxydecyl and their structural isomers; - C1-10-alkyl substituted by COOX which is substituted by OH such as … - C1-10-alkyl substituted by COOX which is substituted by C1-4-alkyl such as … - C1-10-alkyl substituted by C6-12-aryl o such as phenylmethyl, phenylethyl, phenylpropyl, phenylbutyl, phenylpentyl, phenyl- hexyl, phenylheptyl, phenyloctyl, phenylnonyl, phenyldecyl and their structural isomers; - C1-10-alkyl substituted by C6-12-aryl which is substituted by OH o such as hydroxyphenylmethyl, hydroxyphenylethyl, hydroxyphenylpropyl, hydroxy- phenylbutyl, hydroxyphenylpentyl, hydroxyphenylhexyl, hydroxyphenylheptyl, hydroxy- phenyloctyl, hydroxyphenylnonyl, hydroxyphenyldecyl and their structural isomers - C1-10-alkyl substituted by C6-12-aryl which is substituted by C1-4-alkyl o such as tolylmethyl, tolylethyl, tolylpropyl, tolylbutyl, tolylpentyl, tolylhexyl, tolylheptyl, tolyloctyl, tolylnonyl, tolyldecyl and their structural isomers Preferred examples of R1of the formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) include, but are not limited to - hydrogen; - unsubstituted C1-10-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methyl- butyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpro- pyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dime- thylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl and decyl. Particular examples of R1of the formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) include, but are not limited to - hydrogen; - unsubstituted C1-6-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert- butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 231078 14 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethyl- butyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2- ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl and 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl. Special examples of R1of the formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) include, but are not limited to hydrogen and un- substituted C1-2-alkyl such as methyl and ethyl. Preferably, R2in formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl group which is optionally substituted by one of the following groups: guanidino, carboxamide, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfhy- dryl, amino, C6-12-aryl, in particular phenyl, which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rb, or he- taryl, such as imidazolyl or indolyl, where Rbis selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4- alkyl. In particular, R2in formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-5-alkyl group, which is substituted by sulfhydryl, which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rb, or hetaryl, such as imid- azolyl or indolyl, where Rbis selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl. Especially, R2in formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-alkyl, and C2-alkyl group, which is substituted by one of the following groups: guanidino, carboxamide, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfhydryl, imidazolyl, amino, C1-C4-alkylsulfanyl, C6-12-aryl, in particular phenyl, which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rb, where Rbis selected from C1-4-alkyl. Suitable examples of R2of the formula (I) include, but are not limited to - hydrogen; - unsubstituted C1-10-alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobu- tyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2- methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dime- thylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1- ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1- ethyl-2-methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl and decyl. - C1-10-alkyl substituted by guanidino such as guanidinomethyl, guanidinoethyl, guanidinopropyl, guanidinobutyl, guanidinopentyl, guanidinohexyl, guanidinoheptyl, guanidinooctyl, guanidi- nononyl, guanidinodecyl and their structural isomers. - C1-10-alkyl substituted by carboxamide such as carboxamidemethyl, carboxamideethyl, carbox- amidepropyl, carboxamidebutyl, carboxamidepentyl, carboxamidehexyl, carboxamideheptyl, car- boxamideoctyl, carboxamidenonyl, carboxamidedecyl and their structural isomers; 231078 15 - C1-10-alkyl substituted by hydroxyl such as hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxy- butyl, hydroxypentyl, hydroxyhexyl, hydroxyheptyl, hydroxyoctyl, hydroxynonyl, hydroxydecyl and their structural isomers; - C1-10-alkyl substituted by carboxyl such as hydroxyl such as carboxymethyl, carboxyethyl, carbox- ypropyl, carboxybutyl, carboxypentyl, carboxyhexyl, carboxyheptyl, carboxyoctyl, carboxynonyl, carboxydecyl and their structural isomers; - C1-10-alkyl substituted by sulfhydryl such as sulfhydrylmethyl, sulfhydrylethyl, sulfhydrylpropyl, sulfhydrylbutyl, sulfhydrylpentyl, sulfhydrylhexyl, sulfhydrylheptyl, sulfhydryloctyl, sulfhydrylnonyl, sulfhydryldecyl and their structural isomers; - C1-10-alkyl substituted by amino such as aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, ami- nopentyl, aminohexyl, aminoheptyl, aminooctyl, aminononyl, aminodecyl and their structural iso- mers; - C1-10-alkyl substituted by C6-12-aryl, in particular phenyl, o such as phenylmethyl, phenylethyl, phenylpropyl, phenylbutyl, phenylpentyl, phenyl- hexyl, phenylheptyl, phenyloctyl, phenylnonyl, phenyldecyl and their structural isomers; - C1-10-alkyl substituted by C6-12-aryl substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rb, where Rbis OH such as hydroxyphenylmethyl, hydroxyphenylethyl, hydroxyphenylpropyl, hydroxyphenylbutyl, hydroxy- phenylpentyl, hydroxyphenylhexyl, hydroxyphenylheptyl, hydroxyphenyloctyl, hydroxy- phenylnonyl, hydroxyphenyldecyl and their structural isomers; - C1-10-alkyl substituted by hetaryl, in particular indolyl, such as indolylmethyl, indolylethyl, indol- ylpropyl, indolylbutyl, indolylpentyl, indolylhexyl, indolylheptyl, indolyloctyl, indolylnonyl, indol- yldecyl and their structural isomers. Preferred examples of R2of the formula (I) include, but are not limited to - hydrogen; - unsubstituted C1-5-alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobu- tyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2- methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl and 1-ethylpropyl. - C1-5-alkyl substituted by guanidino such as guanidinomethyl, guanidinoethyl, guanidinopropyl, guanidinobutyl, guanidinopentyl and their structural isomers. - C1-5-alkyl substituted by carboxamide such as carboxamidemethyl, carboxamideethyl, carbox- amidepropyl, carboxamidebutyl, carboxamidepentyl and their structural isomers; - C1-5-alkyl substituted by hydroxyl such as hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, hydroxy- butyl, hydroxypentyl and their structural isomers; - C1-5-alkyl substituted by carboxyl such as hydroxyl such as carboxymethyl, carboxyethyl, carbox- ypropyl, carboxybutyl, carboxypentyl and their structural isomers; - C1-5-alkyl substituted by sulfhydryl such as sulfhydrylmethyl, sulfhydrylethyl, sulfhydrylpropyl, sulfhydrylbutyl, sulfhydrylpentyl and their structural isomers; 231078 16 - C1-5-alkyl substituted by amino such as aminomethyl, aminoethyl, aminopropyl, aminobutyl, ami- nopentyl and their structural isomers; - C1-5-alkyl substituted by phenyl, o such as phenylmethyl, phenylethyl, phenylpropyl, phenylbutyl, phenylpentyl, phenylhexyl and their structural isomers; - C1-5-alkyl substituted by phenyl substituted by 1 substituent Rb, where Rbis OH such as hydroxy- phenylmethyl, hydroxyphenylethyl, hydroxyphenylpropyl, hydroxyphenylbutyl, hydroxyphenylpen- tyl and their structural isomers; - C1-5-alkyl substituted by indolyl, such as indolylmethyl, indolylethyl, indolylpropyl, indolylbutyl, in- dolylpentyl and their structural isomers. Also preferably, R1and R2in formula (I) together with CH-(CH2)x-N may alternatively form a 5 or 6-mem- bered saturated or partially unsaturated ring which may have a further heteroatom selected from N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents; In particular, R1and R2in formula (I) together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated ring, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-6-alkyl substituents; In particular, R1and R2in formula (I) together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5-membered saturated ring having a further S as heteroatom, where the 5-membered saturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substit- uents; Particularly, R1and R2in formula (I) together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 6-membered partially unsaturated ring having a further N as heteroatom, where the 6-membered partially unsaturated ring optionally carries1 or 2 C1-6 alkyl substituents; Particularly, R1and R2in formula (I) together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 6-membered saturated ring, where the 6-membered saturated ring optionally carries1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents; Suitable examples of this alternative of the combination of R1and R2in formula (I) include, but are not lim- ited to that - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated ring, where the 5 or 6- membered saturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-6-alkyl substituents o such as proline, pipecolinic acid and iso-nipecotic acid optionally carrying 1 or 2 of me- thyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (iso- butyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethyl- butyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1- methylpropyl and 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl; 231078 17 - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated ring having a further het- eroatom selected from N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-6-alkyl substituents o such as thioproline optionally carrying 1 or 2 of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3- methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl and 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl; - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered partially unsaturated ring, where the 5 or 6-membered partially unsaturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-6-alkyl substituents; - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered partially unsaturated ring having a further heteroatom selected from N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered partially unsaturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-6-alkyl substituents o such as ectoine optionally carrying 1 or 2 of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3- methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl and 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl. Preferred examples of this alternative of the combination of R1and R2in formula (I) include, but are not limited to that - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated ring, where the 5 or 6- membered saturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-4-alkyl substituents o such as proline, pipecolinic acid and iso-nipecotic acid optionally carrying 1 or 2 of me- thyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (iso- butyl) and 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl); - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated ring having a further het- eroatom selected from N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-4-alkyl substituents o such as thioproline optionally carrying 1 or 2 of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl) and 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl); - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered partially unsaturated ring having a further heteroatom selected from N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered partially unsaturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-4-alkyl substituents 231078 18 o such as ectoine optionally carrying 1 or 2 of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl) and 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl). Preferably, R3in formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl and CHRx-O-Ry, where Rxis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl; Ryis selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, where Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4- alkyl. In particular, R3in formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) is selected from the group consisting of C6-14-alkyl and CHR4-O-R5, where R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; R5is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, where C1-20-alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, where Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl. Especially, R3in formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) is selected from the group consisting of C5-12-alkyl, in particu- lar C10-alkyl and CHR4-O-R5, where R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; R5is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14- alkyl, which is unsubstituted. Suitable examples of R3of the formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) include, but are not limited to - C1-20-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2- methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethyl- butyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2- ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, undecyl, isoundecyl, dodecyl, isododecyl, tridecyl, isotridecyl, tetradecyl, isotetradecyl, pentadecyl, isoben- tadecyl, hexadecyl, isohexadecyl, heptadecyl, isoheptadecyl, octadecyl, isooctadecyl, iso- tetradecyl, nonadecyl, isononadecyl, eicosyl and isoeicosyl; - C2-20-alkenyl such as ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, 1-methylethenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3- butenyl, 1-methyl-1-propenyl, 2-methyl-1-propenyl, 1-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 1- pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-1-butenyl, 2-methyl-1-butenyl, 3-methyl-1- butenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl- 2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2-me- thyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-propenyl, 1,2-dime- 231078 19 231078 20 such as O-methyl, O-ethyl, O-n-propyl, O-isopropyl, O-n-butyl, O-sec-butyl, O-isobu- tyl, O-tert-butyl, O-2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), O-C(O)- C1-4-alkyl such as O-C(O)-methyl, O-C(O)-ethyl, O-C(O)-n-propyl, O-C(O)-isopropyl, O-C(O)-n-butyl, O-C(O)-sec-butyl, O-C(O)-isobutyl, O-C(O)-tert-butyl, O-C(O)-2- methylpropyl (isobutyl), O-C(O)-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl) and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl such as C(O)O-methyl, C(O)O-ethyl, C(O)O-n-propyl, C(O)O-isopropyl, C(O)O-n- butyl, C(O)O-sec-butyl, C(O)O-isobutyl, C(O)O-tert-butyl, C(O)O-2-methylpropyl (iso- butyl), C(O)O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl); - CHR4-O-R5, where R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl); R5is selected from the group consisting of C2-20-alkenyl such as ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2- propenyl, 1-methylethenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-methyl-1-propenyl, 2- methyl-1-propenyl, 1-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-1-butenyl, 2-methyl-1-butenyl, 3-methyl-1-butenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl- 2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2- methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-pro- penyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2- hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-methyl-1-pentenyl, 2-me- thyl-1-pen- tenyl, 3-methyl-1-pentenyl, 4-methyl-1-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-2- pen- tenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl- 3-pentenyl, 3-me- thyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-me- thyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl- 3-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1 ,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl- 3-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-1-butenyl, 1-ethyl- 2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl-1-butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-butenyl, 1,1,2- trimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-1-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-2-propenyl, heptenyl, 3-methylhexenyl, octenyl, 3-methylheptenyl, nonenyl, 4-methyloctenyl, decenyl, undecenyl, 3-ethylnonenyl, dodecenyl, 4-ethylde- cenyl, tridecenyl, 4-propyldecenyl, 5-methyltridecenyl, tetradecenyl, pentadecenyl, hexadecenyl, heptadecenyl, 5-methylhexadecenyl, 6-ethylpentadecenyl, 4- propyltetradecenyl, octadecenyl, 6-ethylheptadecenyl, nonadecenyl, 7-methyloctade- cenyl and eicosenyl, where C2-20-alkenyl is unsubsituted or substituted by 1 or 2 sub- stituents Rc, where Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl such as O-methyl, O- ethyl, O-n-propyl, O-isopropyl, O-n-butyl, O-sec-butyl, O-isobutyl, O-tert-butyl, O-2- methylpropyl (isobutyl), O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl such as O- C(O)-methyl, O-C(O)-ethyl, O-C(O)-n-propyl, O-C(O)-isopropyl, O-C(O)-n-butyl, O- C(O)-sec-butyl, O-C(O)-isobutyl, O-C(O)-tert-butyl, O-C(O)-2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 231078 21 O-C(O)-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl) and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl such as C(O)O-methyl, C(O)O-ethyl, C(O)O-n-propyl, C(O)O-isopropyl, C(O)O-n-butyl, C(O)O-sec-butyl, C(O)O-isobutyl, C(O)O-tert-butyl, C(O)O-2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), C(O)O-1,1-di- methylethyl (tert-butyl); - CHR4-O-R5, where R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl); R5is selected from the group consisting of C6-12-aryl such as phenyl, naphthyl, fluorenyl, azulenyl, anthracenyl and phenanthreny, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd, where Rdis selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n- propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), O-C1-4-alkyl such as O-methyl, O-ethyl, O-n-propyl, O- isopropyl, O-n-butyl, O-sec-butyl, O-isobutyl, O-tert-butyl, O-2-methylpropyl (isobu- tyl), O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl) and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl such as C(O)O-methyl, C(O)O-ethyl, C(O)O-n-propyl, C(O)O-isopropyl, C(O)O-n-butyl, C(O)O-sec-butyl, C(O)O-isobutyl, C(O)O-tert-butyl, C(O)O-2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), C(O)O-1,1-di- methylethyl (tert-butyl). Preferred examples of R3of the formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) include, but are not limited to - C1-20-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2- methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethyl- butyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2- ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, undecyl, isoundecyl, dodecyl, isododecyl, tridecyl, isotridecyl, tetradecyl, isotetradecyl, pentadecyl, isoben- tadecyl, hexadecyl, isohexadecyl, heptadecyl, isoheptadecyl, octadecyl, isooctadecyl, iso- tetradecyl, nonadecyl, isononadecyl, eicosyl and isoeicosyl; - CHR4-O-R5, where R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl); R5is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-di- methylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dime- thylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpen- tyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethyl- butyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1- ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1- 231078 22 methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, undecyl, isoundecyl, dodecyl, isododecyl, tridecyl, isotridecyl, tetradecyl, isotetradecyl, pentadecyl, isobentadecyl, hexadecyl, isohexadecyl, heptadecyl, isoheptadecyl, octadecyl, isooctadecyl, isotetradecyl, non- adecyl, isononadecyl, eicosyl and isoeicosyl, where C1-20-alkyl is unsubsituted or sub- stituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, where Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl such as O-methyl, O-ethyl, O-n-propyl, O-isopropyl, O-n-butyl, O-sec-butyl, O-isobu- tyl, O-tert-butyl, O-2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), O-C(O)- C1-4-alkyl such as O-C(O)-methyl, O-C(O)-ethyl, O-C(O)-n-propyl, O-C(O)-isopropyl, O-C(O)-n-butyl, O-C(O)-sec-butyl, O-C(O)-isobutyl, O-C(O)-tert-butyl, O-C(O)-2- methylpropyl (isobutyl), O-C(O)-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl) and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl such as C(O)O-methyl, C(O)O-ethyl, C(O)O-n-propyl, C(O)O-isopropyl, C(O)O-n- butyl, C(O)O-sec-butyl, C(O)O-isobutyl, C(O)O-tert-butyl, C(O)O-2-methylpropyl (iso- butyl), C(O)O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl); - CHR4-O-R5, where R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (iso- butyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl); R5is selected from the group consisting of C2-20-alkenyl such as ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2- propenyl, 1-methylethenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-methyl-1-propenyl, 2- methyl-1-propenyl, 1-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-1-butenyl, 2-methyl-1-butenyl, 3-methyl-1-butenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl- 2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2- methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-pro- penyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2- hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-methyl-1-pentenyl, 2-me- thyl-1-pen- tenyl, 3-methyl-1-pentenyl, 4-methyl-1-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-2- pen- tenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl- 3-pentenyl, 3-me- thyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-me- thyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl- 3-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1 ,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl- 3-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-1-butenyl, 1-ethyl- 2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl-1-butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-butenyl, 1,1,2- trimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-1-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-2-propenyl, heptenyl, 3-methylhexenyl, octenyl, 3-methylheptenyl, nonenyl, 4-methyloctenyl, decenyl, undecenyl, 3-ethylnonenyl, dodecenyl, 4-ethylde- cenyl, tridecenyl, 4-propyldecenyl, 5-methyltridecenyl, tetradecenyl, pentadecenyl, hexadecenyl, heptadecenyl, 5-methylhexadecenyl, 6-ethylpentadecenyl, 4- propyltetradecenyl, octadecenyl, 6-ethylheptadecenyl, nonadecenyl, 7-methyloctade- cenyl and eicosenyl, where C2-20-alkenyl is unsubsituted or substituted by 1 or 2 sub- stituents Rc, where Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl such as O-methyl, O-ethyl, O-n-propyl, O-isopropyl, O-n-butyl, O-sec- butyl, O-isobutyl, O-tert-butyl, O-2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert- butyl), O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl such as O-C(O)-methyl, O-C(O)-ethyl, O-C(O)-n-propyl, O- C(O)-isopropyl, O-C(O)-n-butyl, O-C(O)-sec-butyl, O-C(O)-isobutyl, O-C(O)-tert-bu- tyl, O-C(O)-2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), O-C(O)-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl) and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl such as C(O)O-methyl, C(O)O-ethyl, C(O)O-n-propyl, C(O)O-iso- propyl, C(O)O-n-butyl, C(O)O-sec-butyl, C(O)O-isobutyl, C(O)O-tert-butyl, C(O)O-2- methylpropyl (isobutyl), C(O)O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl). Particular examples of R3of the formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) include, but are not limited to - C6-14-alkyl such as hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dime- thylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, undecyl, isoundecyl, dodecyl, isododecyl, tridecyl, isotridecyl, tetradecyl and isotetradecyl; - CHR4-O-R5, where R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; R5is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-di- methylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dime- thylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpen- tyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethyl- butyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1- ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1- methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, undecyl, isoundecyl, dodecyl, isododecyl, tridecyl, isotridecyl, tetradecyl, isotetradecyl, pentadecyl, isobentadecyl, hexadecyl, isohexadecyl, heptadecyl, isoheptadecyl, octadecyl, isooctadecyl, isotetradecyl, non- adecyl, isononadecyl, eicosyl and isoeicosyl, where C1-20-alkyl is unsubsituted or sub- stituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, where Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl such as O-methyl, O-ethyl, O-n-propyl, O-isopropyl, O-n-butyl, O-sec-butyl, O-isobu- tyl, O-tert-butyl, O-2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), O-C(O)- C1-4-alkyl such as O-C(O)-methyl, O-C(O)-ethyl, O-C(O)-n-propyl, O-C(O)-isopropyl, O-C(O)-n-butyl, O-C(O)-sec-butyl, O-C(O)-isobutyl, O-C(O)-tert-butyl, O-C(O)-2- methylpropyl (isobutyl), O-C(O)-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl) and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl such as C(O)O-methyl, C(O)O-ethyl, C(O)O-n-propyl, C(O)O-isopropyl, C(O)O-n- 24 butyl, C(O)O-sec-butyl, C(O)O-isobutyl, C(O)O-tert-butyl, C(O)O-2-methylpropyl (iso- butyl), C(O)O-1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl). Special examples of R3of the formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) include, but are not limited to - C5-12-alkyl, preferably C10-alkyl such as pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-di- methylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2- methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethyl- butyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-tri- methylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, undecyl, isoundecyl, dodecyl and isododecyl; - CHR4-O-R5, where R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; R5is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methyl- butyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-di- methylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4- methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethyl- butyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trime- thylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, hep- tyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, undecyl, isoundecyl, dodecyl, isododecyl, tridecyl, isotridecyl, tetradecyl, isotetradecyl, penta- decyl, isobentadecyl, hexadecyl, isohexadecyl, heptadecyl, isoheptadecyl, octadecyl, isooctadecyl, isotetradecyl, nonadecyl, isononadecyl, eicosyl and isoeicosyl, where C1-20-alkyl is unsubsituted. More special examples of R3of the formulae (I), (I’-a) and (I’-b) include, but are not limited to - allyloxymethyl, - C6-14-alkyloxymethyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyloxymethyl, - aryloxymethyl, preferably phenyloxymethylr. Preferably, X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkali metal ions. In particular, X is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal ions. Especially, X is potassium. 231078 25 In a preferred group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0, or x is 2 and y is 0; - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring which may have a further heteroatom selected from O, N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents; - R3is C1-20-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, wherein C1-20-alkyl is un- substituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, wherein Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4- alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and - X is hydrogen or an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a particular group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated ring, where the 5 or 6- membered saturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, especially potassium ion. In another particular group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5-membered saturated ring having a further S as heteroatom, where the 5-membered saturated ring optionally carries 1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, especially potassium ion. In another particular group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 6-membered partially unsaturated ring having a fur- ther N as heteroatom, where the 6-membered partially unsaturated ring optionally carries1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, especially potassium ion. 231078 26 In another particular group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x is 2 and y are 0; - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 6-membered saturated ring, where the 6-membered saturated ring optionally carries1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, especially potassium ion. In a preferred group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1is hydrogen; - R2is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl group which is optionally sub- stituted by one of the following groups: guanidino, carboxamide, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfhydryl, imidazolyl, amino, C1-C4-alkylsulfanyl, C6-12-aryl, in particular phenyl, which is optionally substi- tuted by 1 or 2 substituents Rb, or hetaryl, such as imidazolyl or indolyl, wherein Rbis selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; - R3is C1-20-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, wherein C1-20-alkyl is un- substituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, wherein Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4- alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and - X is hydrogen or an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a particular group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1is hydrogen; - R2is selected from the group consisting of C1-10-alkyl group which is substituted by one of the following groups: guanidino, carboxamide, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfhydryl, imidazolyl, amino, C1- C4-alkylsulfanyl, C6-12-aryl, in particular phenyl, which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substitu- ents Rb, wherein Rbis selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, preferably C1-2-alkyl, in particular C1-alkyl, O- C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. 231078 27 In a special group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1is hydrogen; - R2is selected from the group consisting of C1-10-alkyl group, preferably C1-5-alkyl group, in par- ticular C1-alkyl group, which is substituted by sulfhydryl, which is unsubstituted; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In another special group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1is hydrogen; - R2is selected from the group consisting of C1-10-alkyl group, preferably C1-5-alkyl group, in par- ticular C2-alkyl group, which is substituted by sulfhydryl, which is substituted by 1 or 2 substitu- ents Rb, wherein Rbis C1-4-alkyl, preferably C1-2-alkyl, in particular C1-alkyl; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a preferred group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1is selected from the group consisting of C1-10-alkyl, which is optionally substituted by COOX, C2-10-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Ra, wherein Rais selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; - R2is hydrogen; - R3is C1-20-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, wherein C1-20-alkyl is un- substituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, wherein Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4- alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and - X is hydrogen or an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a particular group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1is selected from the group consisting of C1-10-alkyl, preferably C1-6-alkyl, in particular C1-al- kyl, which is optionally substituted by COOX, C2-10-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Ra, wherein Rais selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; - R2is hydrogen; 231078 28 - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a special group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - R1is selected from the group consisting of C1-10-alkyl, preferably C1-6-alkyl, in particular C1-al- kyl, which is unsubstituted; - R2is hydrogen; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a preferred group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x is 1 and y is 0; - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring which may have a further heteroatom selected from O, N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6alkyl substituents; - R3is C1-20-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, wherein C1-20-alkyl is un- substituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, wherein Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4- alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and - X is hydrogen or an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a particular group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x is 1 and y is 0; - R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 6-membered saturated ring, where the 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6-alkyl substituents; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a further preferred group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formulae (I’-a) and (I’-b), wherein - x and y are 0; - z is 1 or 2; - R1is hydrogen; 231078 29 - R3is C1-20-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, wherein C1-20-alkyl is un- substituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, wherein Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4- alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and - X is hydrogen or an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a particular group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of the formulae (I’-a) and (I’-b), wherein - x and y are 0; - z is 1; - R1is hydrogen; - R3is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. In a special group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of formula (I), wherein - x and y are 0; - z is 1; - R1is hydrogen; - R3is C5-12-alkyl, in particular C10-alkyl or CHRx-O-Rywith Rxis hydrogen and Ryis C5-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, in particular potassium ion. Preferably, the reaction product is a reaction product of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound, wherein the amino acid or the salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of alanine, N- methyl-L-alanine, L-proline, L-thioproline, trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, D- and L-pipecolinic acid, L-cysteine, sarcosine, iminodiacetic acid, nipecotic acid, isonipecotic acid, leucine, isoleucine, valin, L-methionine, 2- methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid and salts thereof. In particular, the reaction product is a reaction product of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound, wherein the amino acid or the salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of N-methylglycine (sarcosine), iminodiacetic acid, L-proline, L-thioproline, L-cysteine, pipecolic acid, ec- toine (2-methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid), nipecotic acid, isonipecotic acid, L-methio- nine, and salts thereof. Especially, the reaction product is a reaction product of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound, wherein the amino acid or the salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of L-cysteine, L-thioproline, and salts thereof. 231078 30 In a preferred group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound, wherein - the amino acid or the salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of alanine, N-methyl-L- alanine, L-proline, L-thioproline, trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, D- and L-pipecolinic acid, L-cyste- ine, sarcosine, iminodiacetic acid, nipecotic acid, isonipecotic acid, leucine, isoleucine, valin, L- methionine, 2-methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid and salts thereof; and - the monooxirane compound is selected from the group consisting of compounds of formular (A), wherein three of R1, R2, R3and R4are hydrogen and the fourth being C1-20alkyl, where C1-20alkyl is substituted by 1 or 2 substituents R5, where R5is selected from C1-10-alkyl, OH, =O, O-C1-C4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl, where O-C1-C4-alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents R6, where R6is selected from C1-10-alkyl, OH, =O, O-C1-C4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl. In a particular group of embodiments, the reaction product is a reaction product of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound, wherein - the amino acid or the salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of N-methylglycine (sar- cosine), iminodiacetic acid, L-proline, L-thioproline, L-cysteine, pipecol-ic acid, ectoine (2-me- thyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid), nipecotic acid, isonipecotic acid, L-methio- nine, and salts thereof; and - the monooxirane compound is selected from the group consisting of glycidyl ethers, especially 1,2-epoxydodecane, dodecyl and tetradecyl glycidyl ether. Some of the reaction products comprising a compound of the formular (Ia) are not yet known and show the advantageous effects mentioned above. Therefore, the invention also relates to a compound of the formula (Ia), wherein x is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y is 0 or 1; R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring which may have a further heteroatom selected from O, N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6-alkyl substituents; R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl, or ; R5is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; preferably R5is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; where Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-C4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; Rdis selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkali metal ions. For suitable, preferred and special examples of R4and R5, those of Rxand Ryof R3of the formula (I) ap- plies, respectively. In a preferred group of embodiments, the formula (Ia) is represented by one of the following formulae (Ia- 1) – (Ia-7): 32 wherein R4, R5and X are same as defined in the formula (Ia). In a particular group of the embodiments, - R4of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) is hydrogen; - R5of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert- butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethyl- butyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2- ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, undecyl, isoundecyl, dodecyl, isododecyl, tridecyl, isotridecyl, tetradecyl, isotetradecyl, pentadecyl, isoben- 231078 33 tadecyl, hexadecyl, isohexadecyl, heptadecyl, isoheptadecyl, octadecyl, isooctadecyl, iso- tetradecyl, nonadecyl, isononadecyl, eicosyl and isoeicosyl, where C1-20-alkyl is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, especially potassium ion. In a particular group of the embodiments, only one of R4and R5of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) is hydrogen or R4and R5of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) are not both hydrogen in the same structure. In a special group of embodiments, - R4of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) is hydrogen; - R5of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) is C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted, such as dodecyl, iso- dodecyl, tetradecyl and isotetradecyl; and - X is potassium ion. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a process for producing the compound of the formula (Ia), which comprises reacting an amino acid or a salt thereof of the formula (II) with a monooxirane compound of the formula (III) wherein x, y, R1, R2, R4, R5and X are defined as same as in the formula (Ia). In a preferred group of embodiments, the process for producing the compound of the formula (Ia), which comprises reacting an amino acid or a salt thereof of the formulae (IIa-1) to (IIa-7) (IIa-1) 231078 34 (IIa-2) (IIa-3) (IIa-4) (IIa-5) (IIa-6)

[0002] 231078 35 (IIa-7) with a with a monooxirane compound of the formula (III), wherein R4, R5and X are defined as same as in the formula (Ia). In a particular group of embodiments, the process for producing the compound of the formula (Ia), which comprises reacting an amino acid or a salt thereof of the formulae (IIa-7) to (IIa-7) with a monooxirane compound of the formula (III), wherein - R4of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) is hydrogen; - R5of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) is C1-20-alkyl, preferably C6-14-alkyl, in particular C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert- butyl, 2-methylpropyl (isobutyl), 1,1-dimethylethyl (tert-butyl), pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, hexyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethyl- butyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2- ethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1-ethyl-2- methylpropyl, heptyl, octyl, 1-methylheptyl (2-octyl), 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, undecyl, isoundecyl, dodecyl, isododecyl, tridecyl, isotridecyl, tetradecyl, isotetradecyl, pentadecyl, isoben- tadecyl, hexadecyl, isohexadecyl, heptadecyl, isoheptadecyl, octadecyl, isooctadecyl, iso- tetradecyl, nonadecyl, isononadecyl, eicosyl and isoeicosyl, where C1-20-alkyl is unsubstituted; and - X is an alkali metal ion, especially potassium ion. In a special group of embodiments, the process for producing the compound of the formula (Ia), which comprises reacting an amino acid or a salt thereof of the formulae (IIa-7) to (IIa-7) with a monooxirane compound of the formula (III), wherein - R4of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) is hydrogen; - R5of the formulae (Ia-1) to (Ia-7) is C12- or C14-alkyl, which is unsubstituted, such as dodecyl, iso- dodecyl, tetradecyl and isotetradecyl; and - X is potassium ion. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a process for producing the compound of the formulae (I’-a) or (I’-b) as defined above or a mixture thereof, which comprises reacting an amino acid or a salt thereof of the formula (II’): 231078 36 wherein x, y, z, R1and X are as defined in the formula formulae (I’-a) or (I’-b) above, with a monooxirane compound (III’) wherein R3is as defined in the formula formulae (I’-a) or (I’-b) above. Suitable reaction conditions correspond to those described above. Needless to say, the reaction product is present during the process where surface corrosion may occur to reduce the surface corrosion. In particular, the reaction product is present during automatic dishwashing to reduce the surface corrosion. The reaction product may be dosed separately from the ADW composition or it can be included into the ADW composition. In particular, the reaction product as used according to the present invention is in- cluded into the automatic dishwashing composition. As mentioned above, the reaction products reduce surface corrosion of glass and / or metal surfaces caused by non-phosphate complexing agents, in particular by (poly)amino carboxylates, especially by methylglycine N,N-diacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), ethylenediamine-N,N′- disuccinic acid (EDDS) or iminodisuccinic acid (IDS). Therefore, the reaction products as described herein are preferably used in ADW formulations or in combi- nation with ADW formulations which comprise a non-phosphate complexing agent selected from (poly)amino carboxylates. Particularly, the reaction products as described herein are used in ADW formu- lations or in combination with ADW formulations which comprise a non-phosphate complexing agent se- lected from the group consisting of methylglycine N,N-diacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), ethylenediamine- N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and combinations thereof and the salts thereof. Especially, the reaction products as described herein are used in ADW formulations or in combination with ADW formulations which comprise a non-phosphate complexing agent selected from the group consisting of methylglycine 231078 37 N,N-diacetic acid (MGDA), N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS), imi- nodisuccinic acid (IDS) and combinations thereof and the salts thereof, in particular the alkalimetal salts thereof and especially the sodium salts thereof. Suitable salts of (poly)amino carboxylates are in particular their alkali metal salts, more preferably their so- dium salts. Particularly preferred salts are the trisodium salt of MGDA, the tetrasodium salt of GLDA, the tetrasodium salt of EDDS and the tetrasodium salt of IDS and combinations thereof. It may also be possible to use the (poly)amino carboxylates in combination with citric acid or a salt thereof, in particular in combination with an alkalimetal salt of citric acid, such as the trisodium salts of citric acid. The weight ratio of the complexing agent to the reaction product is generally at least 2:1, e.g. in the range of 2:1 to 100:1. The effect of reduction of surface corrosion achieved by the reaction products is pronounced, if the auto- matic dishwashing is carried out in the absence or essential absence of a phosphate complexing agent. The reaction product may of course be used in the presence of a phosphate complexing agent. However, as mentioned above, phosphates and phosphonates are problematic due to environmental concerns. Pref- erably, the reaction product is therefore used in the absence of phosphate complexing agents. Thus, it is preferred to use the reaction product in an ADW formulation or in combination with an ADW formulation which is essentially free of phosphate compounds. In the context of the present invention, the term “essen- tially free of phosphate compounds” refers to a combined phosphate and polyphosphate content of 0.01% by weight or less, based on the ADW formulation. In one embodiment of the present invention, the reaction products as described herein are used in ADW formulations or in combination with ADW formulations which contain one or more cobuilders from the group of phosphonates, which themselves may have an anti-corrosive effect on metal surfaces. Examples of cobuilders from the group of phosphonates include hydroxyalkanephosphonates and aminoal- kanephosphonates. Among the hydroxyalkanephosphonates, 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate (HEDP) is of particular importance as a cobuilder. It is preferably used as the sodium salt, the disodium salt giving a neutral reaction and the tetrasodium salt an alkaline reaction (pH 9). Suitable aminoal- kanephosphonates are preferably ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonate (EDTMP), diethylenetri- aminepentamethylenephosphonate (DTPMP) and higher homologs thereof. They are preferably used in the form of the neutrally reacting sodium salts, e.g. as hexasodium salt of EDTMP or as hepta- and oc- tasodium salt of DTPMP. The effect of reduction of surface corrosion achieved by the reaction products is pronounced, if the auto- matic dishwashing is carried out in the absence or essential absence of a phosphonate cobuilder. The re- action product may of course be used in the presence of a phosphonate cobuilder. However, as men- tioned above, phosphonates are problematic due to environmental concerns. Therefore, in a preferred group of embodiments, the reaction product is used in the absence of phosphonate cobuilder. Thus, it is preferred to use the reaction product in an ADW formulation or in combination with an ADW formulation 231078 38 which is essentially free of phosphonate cobuilders. In the context of the present invention, the term “es- sentially free of phosphonate cobuilders” refers to a phosphonate cobuilder content of 0.01% by weight or less, based on the ADW formulation. In a preferred group of embodiments, the formulation for automatic dishwashing is essentially free of phos- phates and phosphonates. It was surprisingly found that the effect of reduction of surface corrosion achieved by the reaction products is still present, if the automatic dishwashing is carried out in the presence of conventional compounds that inhibit the corrosion of metal in automatic dishwashing, which are referred to as conventional metal corro- sion inhibitors. The use of the reaction products as defined herein in automatic dishwashing applications and ADW formulations allow for reducing the amount of these conventional metal corrosion inhibitors in ADW formulations. Examples of suitable conventional metal corrosion inhibitors are - triazoles, including in particular benzotriazoles, such as benzotriazole, tolutriazoles and bisbenzotria- zoles, aminotriazoles and alkylaminotriazoles, - imidazoles, and - phenol derivatives such as, for example, hydroquinone, pyrocatechol, hydroxyhydroquinone, gallic acid, phloroglucinol or pyrogallol. Example of triazoles include triazole, aminotriazole, alkyltriazole, benzotriazole, tolyltriazole, also referred to as methyl-1H-benzotriazole or tolutriazole (CAS-Nummer: 29385-43-1) and dibenzotriazole. Example of imidazole compounds include imidazole, 2-ethyl-imidazole, 2-propyl-imidazole, 8-octyl-imidazole, 1-ethyl- 4-methyl-imidazole, 2-ethyl-4-methyl-imidazole, 2-amino-3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)propanoic acid (histidine), 4- methyl-1-p-tolylimidazole, 2-methyl-benzimidazole, benzimidazole and 5-nitro-benzimidazole. Amongst conventional metal corrosion inhibitors preference is given to the aforementioned triazoles and imidazoles, in particular to benzotriazoles, such as benzotriazole or tolyltriazole, and imidazoles, such as benzimidazole. Generally, the amount of conventional metal corrosion inhibitors may be contained in ADW formulation used in combination with the reaction products defined herein in an amount in the range of 0.001 to 2.0% by weight, in particular in the range of 0.01 to 1.0% by weight or 0.01 to 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the ADW formulation. Frequently, the presence of the reaction products in the automatic dish- washing allows for reducing the amount of conventional metal corrosion inhibitors by an amount of at least 10% in particular at least 20% or at least 40%, based on the amount of conventional metal corrosion inhib- itors typically present in the ADW composition, without significant deterioration of corrosion inhibition. 231078 39 For the use and methods of the reaction products defined herein in automatic dishwashing, the reaction products may be dosed separately to the automatic dishwashing process, i. e. the automatic dishwashing formulation and the reaction product are dosed in separate dosage forms. Preferably, the reaction products are included into the automatic dishwashing formulation used for auto- matic dishwashing. The amount of the reaction product in the ADW formulation is typically in the range of 0.1 to 5% by weight, in particular in the range of 0.2 to 4% by weight and especially in the range of 0.5 to 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the ADW formulation. In a preferred group of embodiments, the reaction product is contained in the formulation for automatic dishwashing. In addition to the reaction product, the automatic dishwashing formulations contain the conventional ingre- dients typically contained in automatic dishwashing formulations. Typical ingredients of ADW formulations are complexing agents, in particular non-phosphate complexing agents, The automatic dishwashing formulations typically contain one or more complexing agents. Typically, the complexing agents comprise at least one non-phosphate complexing agent, in particular at least one com- plexing agent selected from the group of (poly)amino carboxylates. It is also preferred that the ADW for- mulations contain a combination of at least one non-phosphate complexing agent selected from the group of (poly)amino carboxylates and citric acid. In particular, the (poly)amino carboxylates contained in the ADW formulation are selected from methylglycine N,N-diacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) and combinations thereof and the salts thereof, in particular the alkalimetal salts thereof and especially the sodium salts thereof. Especially, the ADW formulation contains the (poly)amino carboxylates in the form of their alka- limetal salts, in particular their sodium salts, such as the trisodium salt of MGDA, the tetrasodium salt of GLDA, the tetrasodium salt of EDDS and the tetrasodium salt of IDS and combinations thereof. It is also preferred that the ADW formulation contains a combination of at least one (poly)amino carboxylate in the form of its alkalimetal salt, in particular its sodium salt, such as the trisodium salt of MGDA, the tetraso- dium salt of GLDA, the tetrasodium salt of EDDS and the tetrasodium salt of IDS and citric acid or a salt thereof, in particular in combination with an alkalimetal salt of citric acid, such as the trisodium salts of cit- ric acid. The amount of the non-phosphate complexing agent in the ADW formulation is typically in the range of 2 to 60% by weight, in particular in the range of 5 to 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the ADW formulation. The weight ratio of the complexing agent to the reaction product in the ADW formulation is generally at least 2:1, in particular at least 5:1, e.g. in the range of 2:1 to 100:1 or in the range of 5:1 to 100:1. Typically, the automatic dishwashing formulation contains at least one surfactant. The surfactant may be non-ionic, zwitterionic / amphoteric or anionic. In particular, the automatic dishwashing formulation contains 231078 40 at least one non-ionic surfactant or at least one non-ionic surfactant in combination with one or more sur- factants selected from anionic and zwitterionic surfactants. The amount of the surfactant in the ADW formulation is typically in the range of 0.1 to 60% by weight, in particular in the range of 0.5 to 25% by weight and especially in the range of 1 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the ADW formulation. Examples of suitable non-ionic surfactants are alkoxylated alcohols, di- and multiblock copolymers of eth- ylene oxide and propylene oxide and reaction products of sorbitan with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, alkyl polyglycosides (APG), hydroxyalkyl mixed ethers and amine oxides. Preferred non-ionic surfactants to be employed in ADW formulations within the context of the present in- vention are disclosed within WO 2019 / 197315. Such non-ionic surfactants are also called mixed hy- droxymethylethers or “HME“ or “HME ethers“. The non-ionic surfactant according to general formula (I) is defined as follows R1-CH(OH)-CH2-O-(AO)x-R2(I) wherein: R1selected from C4-C30-alkyl, straight-chain or branched, and from C4-C30-alkylene, straight-chain or branched, with at least one C-C double bond, R2selected from C1-C30-alkyl, straight-chain or branched, and from C2-C30-alkylene, straight-chain or branched, with at least one C-C double bond, x being in the range of 1 to 100, AO identical or different alkylene oxides, selected from CH2-CH2-O, (CH2)3-O, (CH2)4-O, CH2CH(CH3)- O, CH(CH3)-CH2-O- and CH2CH(n-C3H7)-O. Within the above-mentioned definition of the HME ethers according to general formula (I), it is preferred that the respective variables / substituents are defined as follows R1is selected from C4-C30-alkyl, straight-chain or branched, and from C4-C30-alkylene, straight-chain or branched, with at least one C-C double bond, preferred is C4-C30-alkyl, straight-chain or branched, more preferred is straight-chain C4-C30-alkyl and even more preferred is n-C10-C12-alkyl, R2is selected from C1-C30-alkyl, straight-chain or branched, and from C2-C30-alkylene, straight-chain or branched, with at least one C-C double bond, preferred is C6-C20-alkyl, more preferred is C8-C11- alkyl, x is in the range of 1 to 100, preferably in the range of 5 to 60, more preferably in the range of 10 to 50, and even more preferably in the range of 20 to 40, AO is selected from identical or different alkylene oxides, selected from CH2-CH2-O, (CH2)3-O, (CH2)4- O, CH2CH(CH3)-O, CH(CH3)-CH2-O- and CH2CH(n-C3H7)-O. Preferred example of AO is CH2-CH2- O (EO). 231078 41 In one embodiment of the present invention, (AO)xis selected from (CH2CH2O)x1, x1 being in the range of 1 to 50. In one embodiment of the present invention, (AO)xis selected from –(CH2CH2O)x2-(CH2CH(CH3)-O)x3and –(CH2CH2O)x2-(CH(CH3)CH2-O)x3, x2 and x3 being identical or dif- ferent and in the range of 1 to 30. In one embodiment of the present invention, (AO)xis selected from –(CH2CH2O)x4, x4 = being in the range of 10 to 50, AO being EO, and R1and R2each being independently selected from C8-C14-alkyl. In the context of the present invention, x or x1 or x2 and x3 or x4 are to be understood as average values, the number average being preferred. Therefore, each x or x1 or x2 or x3 or x4 – if applicable – can refer to a fraction although a specific molecule can only carry a whole number of alkylene oxide units. Preferred examples of alkoxylated alcohols and alkoxylated fatty alcohols are, for example, compounds of the general formula (II) in which the variables are defined as follows: R2is identical or different and selected from hydrogen and linear C1-C10-alkyl, preferably in each case identical and ethyl and particularly preferably hydrogen or methyl, R3is selected from C8-C22-alkyl, branched or linear, for example n-C8H17, n-C10H21, n-C12H25, n-C14H29, n-C16H33 or n-C18H37, R4is selected from C1-C10-alkyl, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-bu- tyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, neopentyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, isoamyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec- hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl or isodecyl, The variables e and f are in the range of zero to 300, where the sum of e and f is at least one, preferably in the range of 3 to 50. Preferably, e is in the range of 1 to 100 and f is in the range of 0 to 30. In one embodiment, compounds of the general formula (I) may be block copolymers or random copoly- mers, preference being given to block copolymers. Other preferred examples of alkoxylated alcohols are, for example, compounds of the general formula (III) 231078 42 in which the variables are defined as follows: R2is identical or different and selected from hydrogen and linear C1-C4-alkyl, preferably identical in each case and ethyl and particularly preferably hydrogen or methyl, R5is selected from C6-C20-alkyl, branched or linear, in particular n-C8H17, n-C10H21, n-C12H25, n-C13H27, n-C15H31, n-C14H29, n-C16H33, n-C18H37, a is a number in the range of zero to 10, preferably in the range of 1 to 6, b is a number in the range of 1 to 80, preferably in the range of 4 to 20, d is a number in the range of zero to 50, preferably 4 to 25. The sum a + b + d is preferably in the range of 5 to 100, even more preferably in the range of 9 to 50. Preferred examples for hydroxyalkyl mixed ethers are compounds of the general formula (IV) in which the variables are defined as follows: R2is identical or different and selected from hydrogen and linear C1-C10-alkyl, preferably in each case identical and ethyl and particularly preferably hydrogen or methyl, R3is selected from C8-C22-alkyl, branched or linear, for example iso-C11H23, iso-C13H27, n-C8H17, n- C10H21, n-C12H25, n-C14H29, n-C16H33or n-C18H37, R5is selected from C6-C20-alkyl, for example n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 2- ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tetradecyl, n-hexadecyl, and n-octadecyl. The variables m and n are in the range of zero to 300, where the sum of n and m is at least one, prefera- bly in the range of 5 to 50. Preferably, m is in the range of 1 to 100 and n is in the range of 0 to 30. Compounds of the general formula (III) and (IV) may be block copolymers or random copolymers, prefer- ence being given to block copolymers. 231078 43 Further suitable non-ionic surfactants are selected from di- and multiblock copolymers, composed of eth- ylene oxide and propylene oxide. Further suitable nonionic surfactants are selected from ethoxylated or propoxylated sorbitan esters. Amine oxides or alkyl polyglycosides, especially linear C4-C16-alkyl polyglu- cosides and branched C8-C14-alkyl polyglycosides such as compounds of general average formula (V) are likewise suitable. wherein: R6is C1-C4-alkyl, in particular ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl, R7is -(CH2)2-R6, G1is selected from monosaccharides with 4 to 6 carbon atoms, especially from glucose and xylose, y in the range of 1.1 to 4, y being an average number, Further examples of non-ionic surfactants are compounds of general formula (VI) and (VII) AO is selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and butylene oxide, EO is ethylene oxide, CH2CH2-O, R8selected from C8-C18-alkyl, branched or linear, and R5is defined as above. A3O is selected from propylene oxide and butylene oxide, w is a number in the range of 15 to 70, preferably 30 to 50, w1 and w3 are numbers in the range of 1 to 5, and w2 is a number in the range of 13 to 35. An overview of suitable further nonionic surfactants can be found in EP-A 0851023 and in DE- A 19819187. Mixtures of two or more different non-ionic surfactants selected from the foregoing may also be present. 231078 44 Other surfactants that may be present are selected from amphoteric (zwitterionic) surfactants and anionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. Examples of amphoteric surfactants are those that bear a positive and a negative charge in the same mol- ecule under use conditions. Preferred examples of amphoteric surfactants are so-called betaine-surfac- tants. Many examples of betaine-surfactants bear one quaternized nitrogen atom and one carboxylic acid group per molecule. A particularly preferred example of amphoteric surfactants is cocamidopropyl betaine (lauramidopropyl betaine). Examples of amine oxide surfactants are compounds of the general formula (VIII) R9R10R11N→O (VIII) wherein R9, R10, and R11are selected independently from each other from aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or C2- C4-alkylene C10-C20-alkylamido moieties. Preferably, R9is selected from C8-C20-alkyl or C2-C4-alkylene C10- C20-alkylamido and R10and R11are both methyl. A particularly preferred example is lauryl dimethyl aminoxide, sometimes also called lauramine oxide. A further particularly preferred example is cocamidylpropyl dimethylaminoxide, sometimes also called co- camidopropylamine oxide. Examples of suitable anionic surfactants are alkali metal and ammonium salts of C8-C18-alkyl sulfates, of C8-C18-fatty alcohol polyether sulfates, of sulfuric acid half-esters of ethoxylated C4-C12-alkylphenols (ethoxylation: 1 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide / mol), C12-C18sulfo fatty acid alkyl esters, for example of C12- C18sulfo fatty acid methyl esters, furthermore of C12-C18-alkylsulfonic acids and of C10-C18-alkylarylsulfonic acids. Preference is given to the alkali metal salts of the aforementioned compounds, particularly preferably the sodium salts. Further examples for suitable anionic surfactants are soaps, for example the sodium or potassium salts of stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, ether carboxylates, and alkylether phosphates. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surfactant contained in the ADW formulation com- prises at least one nonionic surfactant in an amount of at least 95% by weight, based on the total weight of the surfactant contained in the ADW formulation. In a particular preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surfactant contained in the ADW formu- lation comprises at least one nonionic surfactant in an amount of at least 95% by weight, based on the to- tal weight of the surfactant contained in the ADW formulation, wherein the non-ionic surfactant is selected from the non-ionic surfactants of the formula (VII). 231078 45 The ADW formulations typically comprise a further component, which is at least one bleaching agent. Bleaching agents as such are known to a person skilled in the art. Bleaching agents are also referred to as bleach. The bleaching agent may comprise besides the bleach as such at least one bleach catalyst and / or at least one bleach activator. The total amount of bleaching agents in the ADW formulation, i. e. the total amount of bleach and the optional bleach activator and / or bleaching agent, is typically in the range of 0.1 to 30% by weight, in particular in the range of 2 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the ADW formulation. Bleaches include e. g. chlorine bleach and peroxide bleach. Peroxide bleach may be for example inor- ganic peroxide bleach and organic peroxide bleach. Preferred are inorganic peroxide bleaches, in particu- lar inorganic peroxide bleaches selected from alkali metal percarbonate, alkali metal perborate and alkali metal persulfate. Liquid peroxide bleaches preferably do not contain both bleaching agent and enzyme. Examples of organic peroxide bleaches are organic percarboxylic acids, especially organic percarboxylic acids. Alkali metal percarbonates, especially sodium percarbonates, are preferably used in coated form. Such coatings may be of organic or inorganic nature. Examples are glycerol, sodium sulfate, silicate, sodium carbonate, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing, for example combinations of sodium car- bonate and sodium sulfate. Suitable chlorine-containing bleaches are, for example, 1,3-dichloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, N-chlorosulfa- mide, chloramine T, chloramine B, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, magnesium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, potassium dichloroisocyanurate and sodium dichloroisocyanurate. The ADW formulations may comprise, for example, in the range from 1 to 10% by weight of chlorine-con- taining bleach and / or a peroxide bleach. The ADW formulations may comprise one or more bleach catalysts. Bleach catalysts include e. g. bleach- boosting transition metal salts or transition metal complexes such as, for example, manganese-, iron-, co- balt-, ruthenium- or molybdenum-salen complexes or carbonyl complexes. Manganese, iron, cobalt, ruthe- nium, molybdenum, titanium, vanadium and copper complexes with nitrogen-containing tripod ligands and also cobalt-, iron-, copper- and ruthenium-amine complexes can also be used as bleach catalysts. The ADW formulations may comprise one or more bleach activators, for example N-methylmorpholinium- acetonitrile salts (“MMA salts”), trimethylammonium acetonitrile salts, N-acylimides such as, for example, N-nonanoylsuccinimide, 1,5-diacetyl-2,2-dioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (“DADHT”) or nitrile quats (trime- thylammonium acetonitrile salts). Further examples of suitable bleach activators are tetraacetylethylenedi- amine (TAED) or tetraacetylhexylenediamine. In a preferred group of the embodiments, the formulation for automatic dishwashing contains a bleach and optionally a bleach activator. 231078 46 It is preferred that the ADW formulation contains at least one bleaching agent comprising i) a chlorine bleach and / or preferably a peroxide bleach, where the peroxide bleach in particular com- prises at least one inorganic peroxide bleach, most preferably, at least one alkali metal percar- bonate, ii) a bleach catalyst, and / or iii) at least one bleach activator, the at least one bleach activator is preferably selected from tetraacet- ylethylenediamine (TAED) and tetraacetylhexylenediamine. The weight ratio of bleach to bleach catalyst and / or bleach activator is preferably in the range of 100:1 to 2:1. The ADW composition may contain one or more polymeric carboxylic acids. These polymeric carboxylic acids are frequently used as organic polymeric builders in ADW formulations and improve the cleaning ac- tivity, e. g. by acting as dispersants and / or by inhibiting scaling. The total amount of polymeric carboxylic acids in the ADW formulation is typically in the range of 0.1 to 10% by weight, in particular in the range of 2 to 7% by weight, based on the total weight of the ADW for- mulation. The polymeric carboxylic acids are in particular selected from the group consisting of homo- and copoly- mers of acrylic acid, polyaspartic acid, modified polyaspartic acid, polyepoxy succinic acid (Cas No. 51274-37-4) and combinations thereof and the salts thereof, in particular the alkalimetal salts thereof, e. g. the sodium salts thereof. In a preferred group of embodiments, the formulation for automatic dishwashing contains at least one pol- ymeric carboxylic acid, which is in particular selected from the group consisting homo- and copolymers of acrylic acid, polyaspartic acid, modified polyaspartic acid, polyepoxy succinic acid and combinations thereof and the salts thereof, in particular the alkalimetal salts thereof, e. g. the sodium salts thereof. In one embodiment of the present invention, the polymeric carboxylic the polymeric carboxylic acids com- prises at least one homo- or copolymer of acrylic acid. Examples of suitable comonomers are methacrylic acid, monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as maleic acid, fumaric acid, maleic anhy- dride, itaconic acid and citraconic acid, monoethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acids and monoethyleni- cally unsaturated phosphonic acids and the salts thereof, in particular their alkalimetal salts, e. g. the so- dium salts thereof. Examples of monoethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acids are 1-acrylamido-1-propane- sulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-propanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonic acid (AMPS), 2-methacrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 3-methacrylamido-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid, al- lylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonic acid, allyloxybenzenesulfonic acid, methallyloxybenzenesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxy- 3-(2-propenyloxy)propanesulfonic acid, 2-methyl-2-propene-1-sulfonic acid, styrenesulfonic acid, vinyl- 231078 47 sulfonic acid, 3-sulfopropyl acrylate, 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate, 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate, sulfomethac- rylamide, sulfomethylmethacrylamide, and salts of said acids, such as sodium, potassium or ammonium salts thereof. An example of a monoethylenically unsaturated phosphonic acid is vinylphosphonic acid and its salts. Preferred polymeric carboxylic acid from the group of homo- and copolymers generally have a weight av- erage molecular weight Mwin the range of 2000 to 100000 g / mol, preferably in the range of 2500 to 80000 g / mol, in particular in the range of 3000 to 70000 g / mol. In one further embodiment of the present invention, the polymeric carboxylic acids comprises at least one of polyaspartic acid and modified polyaspartic acid. Suitable modified polyaspartic acids and modified pol- yaspartic acids and their use in dishwashing formulations have been described in WO 2011 / 001170, WO 2015 / 036325 and WO 2019 / 211231. The preparation of such (modified) polyaspartic acids is also de- scribed, by way of example in DE 4221875.6. Further suitable polymeric carboxylic acids are copolymers of at least one monomer from the group con- sisting of monoethylenically unsaturated C3-C10-mono- or C4-C10-dicarboxylic acids or anhydrides thereof, such as maleic acid, maleic anhydride, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid and citra- conic acid, with at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic monomer as listed below. Suitable hydrophobic monomers are, for example, isobutene, diisobutene, butene, pentene, hexene and styrene, olefins with 10 or more carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, such as, for example, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1- hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-eicosene, 1-docosene, 1-tetracosene and 1-hexacosene, C22-α-olefin, a mixture of C20-C24-α-olefins and polyisobutene having on average 12 to 100 carbon atoms per molecule. Suitable hydrophilic monomers are monoethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acids, their salts, monoeth- ylenically unsaturated phosphonic acids and their salts, and also nonionic monomers with hydroxyl func- tion or alkylene oxide groups. By way of example, mention may be made of: allyl alcohol, isoprenol, meth- oxypolyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, methoxypolypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, methoxypolybutylene glycol (meth)acrylate, methoxypoly(propylene oxide-co-ethylene oxide) (meth)acrylate, ethoxypolyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, ethoxypolypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, ethoxypolybutylene glycol (meth)acrylate and ethoxypoly(propylene oxide-co-ethylene oxide) (meth)acrylate. Polyalkylene glycols here may com- prise 3 to 50, in particular 5 to 40 and especially 10 to 30 alkylene oxide units per molecule. Carboxymethyl inulin is a further example of a polymeric carboxylic acid which is suitable as an organic polymeric builder. Moreover, amphoteric polymers can also be used as organic polymeric builders instead or in combination with polymeric carboxylic acids. The ADW formulation typically contains least one inorganic builder. Suitable inorganic builders include so- dium sulfate, sodium carbonate and silicates. 231078 48 Suitable silicates are in particular sodium silicate, e. g. sodium disilicate and sodium metasilicate, potas- sium silicates and alumino silicates, e. g. zeolithes, with preference given to sodium disilicates, most pref- erably α-Na2Si2O5, β-Na2Si2O5or δ-Na2Si2O5. Suitable examples of such silicates are disclosed, for exam- ple, in WO 2013 / 160132. The sodium sulfate and the sodium carbonate may be used in their anhydrate form or their hydrate forms. The total amount of inorganic builder in the ADW formulation is typically in the range of 5 to 80% by weight, in particular in the range of 5 to 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the ADW formulation. The ADW formulations may comprise one or more enzymes. Enzymes are often used to aid the removal of stains. In most cases the enzymes react with the soiling and break it down into particles that have in- creased water solubility or are better dispersible in the washing liquid. The enzymes that can be used in ADW formulations include, but are not limited to, hydrolases, proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, mannanases, peroxidases, oxidases, xylanases, pullulanases, glucanases, pectinases, cutinases, hemi- cellulases, glucoamylases, phospholipases, esterases, keratanases, reductases, phenoloxidases, lipoxy- genases, ligninases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chon- droitinases, lactases or mixtures thereof. The ADW formulations may contain, for example, up to 20% by weight of one or more enzymes, preference being given to 0.1 to 10% by weight, in particular 0.2 to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the ADW formulation. Said enzyme may be stabilized, for example with the sodium salt of at least one C1-C3-carboxylic acid or C4-C10-dicarboxylic acid. Preferred are for- mates, acetates, adipates, and succinates. In a preferred group of embodiments, the formulation for automatic dishwashing contains, based on the total weight of the formulation, (i) 0.1 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.15 to 4.5% by weight, in particular 0.2 to 4% by weight, espe- cially 0.5 to 3% by weight, of at least one of the reaction products; (ii) 2 to 60% by weight, preferably 3 to 50% by weight, in particular 5 to 45% by weight, especially 10 to 30% by weight, of at least one non-phosphate complexing agent; (iii) 0.1 to 60% by weight, preferably 0.3 to 40% by weight, in particular in the range of 0.5 to 25% by weight and especially in the range of 1 to 10% by weight, of at least one nonionic surfactant; (iv) 0.1 to 30% by weight, preferably 2 to 20% by weight, in particular 3 to 10% by weight, espe- cially 5 to 8% by weight, of at least one bleaching agent; (v) 0.1 to 10% by weight, preferably 2 to 7% by weight, in particular 8 to 40% by weight, especially 10 to 30% by weight, of at least one of the polymeric carboxylic acids; (vi) 5 to 80% by weight, preferably 5 to 50% by weight, in particular 8 to 40% by weight, especially 10 to 30% by weight, of at least one inorganic builder; and (vii) 0 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight, in particular 0.2 to 5% by weight, espe- cially 0.3 to 4% by weight, of one or more enzymes. In one group of embodiments, the ADW formulations contain one or more cobuilders form the group of phosphonates as described above, in particular a hydroxyalkanephosphonate especially 1-hydroxyethane- 231078 49 1,1-diphosphonate (HEDP). The amount of the cobuilders from the group of phosphonates. If present in the ADW formulation, the total amount of cobuilders form the group of phosphonates is in the range of 0.01 to 12% by weight, based on the weight of the ADW formulation. In another embodiment of the inven- tion, the total amount of the cobuilders from the group of phosphonates in the ADW formulation is less than 0.01% by weight, based on the weight of the ADW formulation. In one group of embodiments, the ADW formulations contain one or more conventional metal corrosion inhibitor as described herein. In this group of embodiments, the conventional metal corrosion inhibitors is preferably selected from the aforementioned triazoles and imidazoles, in particular from benzotriazoles, such as benzotriazole or tolutriazoles, and imidazoles, such as benzimidazole, and combinations thereof. If present in the ADW formulation, the total amount of conventional metal corrosion inhibitors is generally in the range of 0.001 to 2% by weight, preferably in the range of 0.01 to 1% by weight, in particular in the range of 0.01 to 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the ADW formulation. In another embodi- ment of the invention, the total amount of conventional metal corrosion inhibitors in the ADW formulation is 0.01% by weight or less, based on the weight of the ADW formulation. In a preferred group of embodiments, the formulation for automatic dishwashing contains an anti-corrosive compound from the group of triazoles and imidazoles in an amount of 0.01 to 1.0% by weight, preferably 0.05 to 0.8% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 0.6% by weight, especially 0.15 to 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation. ADW formulations may comprise one or more alkali carriers. Alkali carriers ensure, for example, a pH of at least 8 if an alkaline pH is desired. Of suitability are, for example, the alkali metal carbonates, the alkali metal hydrogen carbonates, and alkali metal meta silicates mentioned above, and, additionally, alkali metal hydroxides. A preferred alkali metal is in each case potassium, particular preference being given to sodium. Together with enzymes ADW formulations may comprise also enzyme stabilizing systems which may be used such as for example calcium ions, boric acid, boronic acids, propylene glycol and short chain carbox- ylic acids. In the context of the present invention, short chain carboxylic acids are selected from monocar- boxylic acids with 1 to 3 carbon atoms per molecule and from dicarboxylic acids with 2 to 6 carbon atoms per molecule. Preferred examples are formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, or adipic acid. ADW formulations may comprise one or more further additives, such as fragrances, dyestuffs, organic sol- vents, buffers and / or disintegrants for tabs. The ADW formulations may comprise at least one zinc salt. Zinc salts may be selected from water-soluble and water-insoluble zinc salts. In this connection, within the context of the present invention, water-insolu- ble is used to refer to those zinc salts which, in distilled water at 25°C, have a solubility of 0.1 g / l or less. Zinc salts which have a higher solubility in water are accordingly referred to within the context of the pre- sent invention as water-soluble zinc salts. 231078 50 Suitable zinc salts include e. g. zinc benzoate, zinc gluconate, zinc lactate, zinc formate, ZnCl2, ZnSO4, zinc acetate, zinc citrate, zinc glycinate, Zn(NO3)2, Zn(CH3SO3)2and zinc gallate, preferably ZnCl2, ZnSO4, zinc acetate, zinc citrate, Zn(NO3)2, Zn(CH3SO3)2and zinc gallate. In another embodiment of the present invention, the zinc salt is selected from ZnO, ZnO·aq, Zn(OH)2and ZnCO3. Preference is given to ZnO·aq. In one embodiment of the present invention, the zinc salt is selected from zinc oxides with an average par- ticle diameter (weight-average) in the range from 10 nm to 100 µm. The cation in zinc salt can be present in complexed form, for example complexed with ammonia ligands or water ligands, and in particular be present in hydrated form. To simplify the notation, within the context of the present invention, ligands are generally omitted if they are water ligands. Depending on how the pH is adjusted, zinc salt can change. Thus, it is for example possible to use zinc acetate or ZnCl2for preparing formulation according to the invention, but this converts at a pH of 8 or 9 in an aqueous environment to ZnO, Zn(OH)2or ZnO·aq, which can be present in non-complexed or in com- plexed form. In ADW formulations which are solid at room temperature the zinc salt is preferably present in the form of particles which have for example an average diameter (number-average) in the range from 10 nm to 100 µm, preferably 100 nm to 5 µm, determined for example by X-ray scattering. Zinc salt may be present in those ADW formulations that are liquid at room temperature in dissolved or in solid or in colloidal form. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ADW formulations comprise the zinc salt in total amount in the range of 0.05 to 0.4% by weight of, based in each case on the solids content of the formulation. Here, the fraction of zinc salt is given as zinc or zinc ions. From this, it is possible to calculate the counterion fraction. The ADW formulations may comprise one or more antifoams such as silicone oils and paraffin oils. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ADW formulations comprise antifoam in an amount in the range 0.05 to 0.5% by weight, based on the weight of the ADW formulation. The ADW formulations may have any product form suitable for automatic dishwashing. Suitable product forms include, but are not limited to solids forms, such as granules, powders and tablets, semi-solids, gels, pastes, liquids, water-soluble pouches, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment of the present in- vention the composition forms part of a multi-phase unit dose product, preferably a dual compartment wa- ter-soluble pouch, wherein one of the phases preferably comprises a main wash detergent composition or a multiphase tablet or a shaped body. Shaped bodies may be disk-like, spherical, or cuboids, especially with rounded corners. Preferred shaped bodies are tablets. Shaped are solid ADW compositions, prefera- bly as mono-dose. Such a mono-dose may have a weight of from 8 to 30 g, preferably 10 to 20 g. 231078 51 The ADW formulations may be solid, and in such embodiments they may contain some residual humidity, such as 0.01 to 10 % by weight, water. In other embodiments, ADW formulations may be liquids or gels and stored in a container made from a water-soluble polymer, for example in a pouch. Preferred water- soluble polymers are polyvinylalcohols (PVA), for example with an average molecular weight Mwin the range of from 50,000 to 150,000 g / mol and with a degree of saponification in the range of from 87 to 89 mole-%. The degree of saponification can be determined in accordance with the determination of the ester value, for example according to DIN EN ISO 3681 (2007-10). Preferred compositions and manufacturing methods for unit dose executions are described in WO 02 / 42408. Any water-soluble film-forming polymer which is compatible with the compositions of the inven- tion and which allows the delivery of the composition into the rinse cycle can be employed in the unit dose embodiment. The film should remain intact during the wash cycle and only dissolves at the beginning of or during the rinse cycle. This can be achieved by modifying the thickness of the film and / or the solubility of the film material. The solubility of the film material can be delayed by for example cross-linking the film as described in WO 02 / 102,955 at pages 17 and 18. Other water-soluble films designed for rinse release are described in U.S. Pat. No.4,765,916. The ADW formulations composition suitable herein can be dispensed from any suitable device, including but not limited to: dispensing baskets or cups, bottles (pump assisted bottles, squeeze bottles, etc.), me- chanic pumps, multi-compartment bottles, capsules, multi-compartment capsules, paste dispensers, and single- and multi-compartment water-soluble pouches, and combinations thereof. For example, a multi- phase tablet, a water-soluble or water-dispersible pouch, and combinations thereof, may be used to de- liver the reaction product as described herein to the desired substrate. The ADW formulations may take the form of an additive that is used in addition to one or more other ADW formulations. The reaction prod- uct may also be delivered in a rinse aid. The reaction product may also be delivered to the automatic dishwashing process through solutions in- cluding but are not limited to: hot and / or cold water, wash and / or rinse liquor, and combinations thereof. The present invention is illustrated by the attached drawings and explained in further detail with reference to the following non-limiting Examples. Figure 1 shows the discoloration of the coupons after the metal corrosion experiments. The coupon of the comparative example B1 shows non-metallic dark brown color, whereas the second comparative example B2, the inventive example B3 and the other inventive example B4 shows metallic golden, metallic bright golden and metallic golden color, respectively. 231078 52 EXAMPLES Example A: Synthesis of the reaction product according to the invention General Information: Epoxide ring-openings of 1,2-epoxydodecane and dodecyl & tetradecyl glycidyl ether with different amino acids were performed at a temperature range of 20 to 115 °C in a 250 mL or 500 mL round bottom flask in accordance with Table 1 below. Analysis was performed via gas chromatography (after silylation), and structures were confirmed by nu- clear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All chemicals were obtained from chemical wholesale. Example A1: L-proline (99%, 10.0 g) and tetrabutylammonium chloride (abbreviated as TBACl, 97%, 0.6 g) were added to an aq. solution of potassium hydroxide (30 wt-%, 16.1 g) in a 100 mL round bottom flask at room tem- perature. Then, 1,2-epoxydodecane (90%, 18.5 g) was continuously added to the reaction mixture over the course of 15 min. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h, then under reflux (ca. 100 °C) for 8 h. Afterwards the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and the solvent was removed by evapo- ration (40 °C, 8 mbar) and freeze-drying, yielding the material as a solid. Examples A2 to A12: Examples 2 to 12 were performed analogously to Example 1, as indicated in Table 1.

[0003] 231078 53 1emitno]it h[ 8+8+8+8+8+8+8+8+8+8+8+8+c1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1aeR l CA ]BgT[ 6.0 6.0 8.0 8.0 5.0 6.0 3.0 5.0 5.0reta]L3.2.2. 99.2.8.8.Wm[11033434.934611242H O] 8 8 2 2Kg[.4.4.6.6 3.4 6.4 1.2 0.4 3.8]5.2 2 12 3.62 5 2 222 2 g[8.3291 .9. . 929122.99.8 8.191)C°rer r r r r r r r r 01ht eeht eht eht eheheheht eheh 1-0le e etetetet te0eyl l l l lel lel l1.de dinxaic eydi ydi ydydi ydydydi ydydiaoc ylna cyciycyciyci iyc cyc cc(pE e ed glclglglglglg ylglg ylg ylgxumoyedlylylylylylylylyly lfeadNy cxeodcececececececececertodpayrxo dadadadadadadadadaaee-t2e t prtert rt rtert rt rtert rte m,1&e-l2t e t e t t e t e t t e t ti y, & & & &tgc1lyly&ly&ly&ly&lyly&l l niec c c c c c cycycrrdeode e e e e e e eitododod d d dod d slD D D DoDoDoD DoDoDanoitiddasul]pg[0.0 0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0,.er10101010101 0.50101010101utardiecdaic 3 poadidmemecca ict ni iAm ni 32 ecit dicac mie oa 3Ne e 3e lonce nil2ecaicto niorcn tleoninr linienipososo pie oreai it eoia% pts poinido ocpihte00%8-rLpc-rcr- LaSaS cyar 3 c- h otni eL t-LcEmIpi n-emit1if 9fNosm-L g o o1nierytilr ytirba#10 1 2 ritsupupA2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1 1T A A A A A A A A A A A 1 2 3 231078 54 Example B: Metal corrosion experiments The following materials and equipment were used: Materials: Polymeric Carboxylate: Copolymer of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (sodium salt) and acrylic acid (e. g. Sokalan CP50); Complexing agent: MGDA (granules, active content 78 wt.-%) Sodium carbonate: Na2CO3, commercial product Additive 1: Reaction product obtained according to Example A6 (reaction product between L-cysteine and dodecyl & tetradecyl glycidyl ether) Additive 2: Reaction product obtained according to Example A7 (reaction product between L-thioproline and dodecyl / tetradecyl glycidyl ether) Corrosion Inhibitor: Benzotriazole, Irgamet BTZ Coupons: Brass coupons (CuZn63) Equipment: Stirrable block thermostate, 100 mL glass beakers, pH meter, analytical balance The experiments were carried out in 100 ml glass beakers placed in a stirrable block thermostate. The test solutions were prepared by dissolving the respective ingredients in the following amounts in 0.5 dH water. 1 g / L complexing agent 0.6g / L sodium carbonate 0.05g / L polymeric Carboxylate (Sokalan CP50) 0.05g / L additive 1 or 2 0.05g / L corrosion inhibitor Prior to the metal corrosion experiment, the brass coupons were cleaned / degreased in an ethyl acetate bath for 30 min. Afterwards they were rubbed dry. Before starting the experiment, the coupons were weighed with the analytical balance. The brass coupons were placed in the center of the 100ml glass beaker and 80ml of test solution was poured over them. The beakers were then placed in the block ther- mostat at 50 °C and stirred at 600 rpm for 5h. Then, the brass coupons were rinsed with deionized water and dried with compressed air. The completely dried coupons were then weighed on the analytical bal- ance and the removal in mg is determined with the tare weight. Afterwards, the coupons are visually com- pared based on their discoloration (see also Fig.1). The results are summarized in the following table 2: 231078 55 Table 2: Exp. Additive Corrosion inhibitor Weight loss of cou- Discoloration pon [mg] Comparative examples B1 - - 7.3 Non-metallic dark brown B2 - BTZ 0.3 Metallic golden Inventive example B3 1 - 0.4 Metallic bright golden B4 2 - 0.1 Metallic golden

Claims

231078 56 CLAIMS 1. The use of a reaction product of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound for reducing surfaces corrosion.

2. The use according to claim 1, for reducing surfaces corrosion in an automatic dishwashing process.

3. A method for reducing surfaces corrosion in a process where surface corrosion may occur, which comprises carrying out the process in the presence of a reaction product of an amino acid or a salt thereof with a monooxirane compound.

4. The method according to claim 3, for reducing surfaces corrosion in an automatic dishwashing pro- cess.

5. The use according to claim 1 or 2 or the method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the reaction product comprises a compound of the formula (I)x is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y is 0 or 1; R1is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl, which is optionally substituted by COOX, C2-10-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substit- uents Ra; R2is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl group which is optionally sub- stituted by one of the following groups: guanidino, carboxamide, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfhydryl, imidazolyl, amino, C1-C4-al- kylsulfanyl, C6-12-aryl, in particular phenyl, which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rb, or hetaryl, such as imidazolyl or indolyl, and a radical CH2-S-CH2-CH(OH)-R3; R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N may alternatively form a 5 or 6-membered saturated or par- tially unsaturated ring which may have a further heteroatom selected from O, N and S, where the 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6al- kyl substituents; R3is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, C6-12-aryl and CHRx-O-Ry; Rxis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl; Ryis selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd;231078 57 X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkali metal ions, and where Ra, Rb, Rdindependently of each other are selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl.

6. The use according to claim 1 or 2 or the method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the reaction product comprises a compound of the formulae (I’-a) and / or (I’-b)(I‘-b) where x is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y is 0 or 1; z is 0, 1 or 2; R1is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-10-alkyl, which is optionally substituted by COOX, C2-10-alkenyl and C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substit- uents Ra; R3is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, C6-12-aryl and CHRx-O-Ry; where Rxis selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl; and Ryis selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20-alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkali metal ions, Ra, Rdindependently of each other are selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and231078 58 Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl.

7. The use or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the amino acid or the salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of alanine, N-methyl-L-alanine, L-proline, L-thi- oproline, trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, D- and L-pipecolinic acid, L-cysteine, sarcosine, iminodiacetic acid, nipecotic acid, isonipecotic acid, leucine, isoleucine, valin, L-methionine, 2-methyl-3,4,5,6-tet- rahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid and salts thereof.

8. The use or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reaction product is used in or in combination with a formulation for automatic dishwashing which comprises a complex- ing agent selected from the group consisting of methylglycine N,N-diacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), ethylenediamine-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and combinations thereof and the salts thereof, wherein the reaction product is preferably used in such an amount that the weight ratio of the complexing agent to the reaction product is at least 2:1, e. g. in the range of 2:1 to 100:

1.

9. The use or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reaction product is used in the absence of phosphates and phosphonates.

10. The use or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reaction product is contained in a formulation for automatic dishwashing.

11. The use or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reaction product is used in or in combination with a formulation for automatic dishwashing, wherein the formulation for automatic dishwashing contains one, two or all three of the following components (a), (b) and / or (c): (a) at least one polymeric carboxylic acid, which is in particular selected from the group consist- ing homo- and copolymers of acrylic acid, polyaspartic acid, modified polyaspartic acid, pol- yepoxy succinic acid and combinations thereof and the salts thereof, in particular the alka- limetal salts thereof, e. g. the sodium salts thereof; (b) a bleach and optionally a bleach activator; and / or (c) at least one non-ionic surfactant.

12. The use or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reaction product is used in or in combination with a formulation for automatic dishwashing, wherein the formulation for automatic dishwashing contains, based on the total weight of the formulation, (viii) 0.1 to 5% by weight of at least one of the reaction products; (ix) 2 to 60% by weight of at least one non-phosphate complexing agent; (x) 0.1 to 60% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant; (xi) 0.1 to 30% by weight of at least one bleaching agent; (xii) 0.1 to 10% by weight of at least one of the polymeric carboxylic acids;231078 59 (xiii) 5 to 80% by weight of at least one inorganic builder; and (xiv) 0 to 20% by weight of one or more enzymes.

13. The use or method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reaction product is used in or in combination with a formulation for automatic dishwashing, wherein one or both of fol- lowing conditions (d) and / or (e) apply: (d) the formulation for automatic dishwashing contains an anti-corrosive compound from the group of triazoles and imidazoles in an amount of 0.01 to 1.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the formulation; and / or (e) the formulation for automatic dishwashing is essentially free of phosphates and phospho- nates.

14. A compound of the formula (Ia),wherein x is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and y is 0 or 1; R1and R2together with CH-(CH2)x-N form a 5 or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring which may have a further heteroatom selected from O, N and S, where the 5- or 6-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring may carry 1 or 2 C1-6-alkyl substituents; R4is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4-alkyl; R5is selected from the group consisting of C1-20-alkyl, C2-20-alkenyl, where C1-20-alkyl and C2-20- alkenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rc, C6-12-aryl, which is unsub- stituted or substituted by 1 or 2 substituents Rd; where Rcis selected from OH, =O, O-C1-C4-alkyl, O-C(O)-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; Rdis selected from OH, C1-4-alkyl, O-C1-4-alkyl and C(O)O-C1-4-alkyl; and X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkali metal ions; where the formula (Ia) is preferably represented by the following formulae (Ia-1) – (Ia-7):231078 60231078 61(Ia-7) wherein R4, R5and X are same as defined in the formula (Ia).

15. A compound of the formulae (I’-a) or (I’-b) as defined in claim 6 or a mixture thereof; where prefera- bly x = 0, y = 0 and z = 1.

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