Colorless petroleum marker dyes

Abstract

A composition comprising a liquid petroleum product and a colorless marker compound in an amount that is not detectable visually, and a method for marking a liquid petroleum product with a colorless marker compound.

1 . A composition comprising a liquid petroleum product and a compound having the formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  is C 1 -C 18  alkyl, C 1 -C 18  alkenyl, aryl or aralkyl; R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently hydrogen, C 1 -C 12  alkyl, chloro or bromo; and R 5  is hydrogen, chloro or bromo; and wherein said compound is present in an amount that is not detectable visually.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  in which said compound is present in an amount from 0.5 ppm to 100 ppm.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  in which said liquid petroleum product is gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, fuel oil, kerosene or lamp oil.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  in which R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are hydrogen or alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  which R 1  is alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms and R 5  is hydrogen.  
     
     
         6 . A compound having the formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         7 . A method of marking a liquid petroluem product comprising adding to the petroleum product as a marker a compound of formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  is C 1 -C 18  alkyl, C 1 -C 18  alkenyl, aryl or aralkyl; R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently hydrogen, C 1 -C 12  alkyl, chloro or bromo; and R 5  is hydrogen, chloro or bromo; wherein the compound is not detectable visually, and wherein the compound develops a color on contact with a developing reagent.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  in which said compound is present in an amount from 0.05 ppm to 100 ppm.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  in which said liquid petroleum product is gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, fuel oil, kerosene or lamp oil.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  in which R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are hydrogen or alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms, R 1  is alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms and R 5  is hydrogen.