ANIONICALLY MODIFIED ORGANOPHILIC CLAYS

An organophilic clay gellant is disclosed which comprises the reaction product of an organic cation compound, an organic anion, and a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay. The organic cation compound has the formula: <IMG> wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of a .beta., .gamma. -unsaturated alkyl group and a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof; R2 is a long chain alkyl aroup having 12 to 60 carbon atoms; R3 and R4 are individually selected from the group consisting of a .beta., Y -unsaturated alkyl group, a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group, an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof; X is selected from a group consisting of phosphorous and nitrogen. The reaction is carried out in a manner such that an organic cation-organic anion complex is intercalated with the smectite-type clay and the cation exchange sites of the smectite-type clay are substituted with the organic cation.