Non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquids and methods of making them are disclosed. The non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid comprises a cation and an anion and has the formula: ##STR00001##

Non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquids and methods of making them are disclosed. The non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid comprises a cation and an anion and has the formula: ##STR00001##

Non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquids and methods of making them are disclosed. The non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid comprises a cation and an anion and has the formula:

##STR00001##

Non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquids and methods of making them are disclosed. The non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid comprises a cation and an anion and has the formula:

##STR00001##

Compounds, compositions and methods are provided as surfactants, fabric softening agents, corrosion inhibitors, bio-film inhibitors, biocides, and rheology modifiers. The multi-ionic surfactants are compounds having a structure corresponding to Formula 1, or a salt thereof:

##STR00001##

Wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkylene; R.sup.2 is independently hydrogen, (CH.sub.2).sub.xNR.sup.20R.sup.21, or (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently hydrogen, (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together with the nitrogen they are attached to form a substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl; R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently hydrogen, (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together with the nitrogen they are attached to form a substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl; R.sup.10 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl; R.sup.11, R.sup.12, and R.sup.13 are independently C.sub.1 to C.sub.1 alkyl or alkaryl; R.sup.20 and R.sup.21 are independently hydrogen, (CH.sub.2).sub.xNR.sup.20R.sup.21, (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ, or together with the nitrogen they are attached to form a substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl; X is NH or O; Z is hydrogen, L.sup.1-NR.sup.11R.sup.12R.sup.13, L.sup.2-PR.sup.11R.sup.12R.sup.13, L.sup.3-COOH, L.sup.4-SO.sub.3H, L.sup.5-PO.sub.3H, or a salt thereof; L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3, L.sup.4, and L.sup.5 are independently C.sub.1-C.sub.1 alkylene or alkenylene; n is an integer of 1 to 10; and x is an integer of 1 to 10; wherein at least one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together form a substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl; and wherein at least one R.sup.2 is (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ or (CH.sub.2).sub.xNR.sup.20R.sup.21 wherein one of R.sup.20 or R.sup.21 is (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ.

Compounds, compositions and methods are provided as surfactants, fabric softening agents, corrosion inhibitors, bio-film inhibitors, biocides, and rheology modifiers. The multi-ionic surfactants are compounds having a structure corresponding to Formula 1, or a salt thereof:

##STR00001##

Wherein R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkylene; R.sup.2 is independently hydrogen, (CH.sub.2).sub.xNR.sup.20R.sup.21, or (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently hydrogen, (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together with the nitrogen they are attached to form a substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl; R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently hydrogen, (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together with the nitrogen they are attached to form a substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl; R.sup.10 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl; R.sup.11, R.sup.12, and R.sup.13 are independently C.sub.1 to C.sub.1 alkyl or alkaryl; R.sup.20 and R.sup.21 are independently hydrogen, (CH.sub.2).sub.xNR.sup.20R.sup.21, (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ, or together with the nitrogen they are attached to form a substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl; X is NH or O; Z is hydrogen, L.sup.1-NR.sup.11R.sup.12R.sup.13, L.sup.2-PR.sup.11R.sup.12R.sup.13, L.sup.3-COOH, L.sup.4-SO.sub.3H, L.sup.5-PO.sub.3H, or a salt thereof; L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3, L.sup.4, and L.sup.5 are independently C.sub.1-C.sub.1 alkylene or alkenylene; n is an integer of 1 to 10; and x is an integer of 1 to 10; wherein at least one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 together form a substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl; and wherein at least one R.sup.2 is (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ or (CH.sub.2).sub.xNR.sup.20R.sup.21 wherein one of R.sup.20 or R.sup.21 is (CH.sub.2).sub.xC(R.sup.10)C(O)XZ.