1 is h or c 1 c 10 alkyl with r 2 comprising c 1 c 15 alkyl r 1 is preferably either ch 3 or h the r 2 grouping is preferably located at either the number 4 or number 5 position on the aromatic nucleus more specifically location of r 2 is more preferred at the number 5 position giving the structure str2 wherein r 1 and r 2 are as above defined generally the 2 39 hydroxy 4 39 or 5 39 alkyl acetophenone oxime and 2 hydroxy 4 or 5 alkyl benzaldehyde oxime compounds may be purchased from commercial suppliers such as aldrich additionally the compounds may be prepared by the wall known synthetic route of reacting hydroxylamine with the requisite ketone or aldehyde through the procedure str3 more specifically and as shown in the examples the compounds used as iron deactivators herein are prepared in a meoh h 2 o solution of nh 2 oh with the requisite 2 hydroxy 4 or 5 acetophenone or 2 hydroxy 4 or 5 benzaldehyde under reflux conditions r 3 under scheme iii is preferably h or ch 3 with r 4 equal to str4 with r 2 defined as above the produced oximes wherein r 2 in formulae i or ii is dodecyl are in the form of a viscous liquid which for use in the iron deactivation process are preferably diluted with inert organic solvent such as xylene hexane heavy aromatic naphtha diethyl ether etc the oximes of formulae i and ii having r 2 groupings of about c 11 and less i e fewer than eleven c atoms are generally in the form of solids that for use are preferably dissolved in the above organic solvents the 2 39 hydroxy 4 39 or 5.