The invention relates to ammonium nitriles of general formula (I), wherein the radicals R³, R⁴, R⁵ and X^- have the meaning as cited in the description and R¹ and R² respectively represent individually a straight or branched chained C₅-C₂₄-alkyl, alkenyl or alkylether group. The inventive compounds are used as bleaching activators in washing, cleaning, and disinfective agents and in textile and paper bleaching.