Composition containing a photoactivator for improved washing and bleaching of fabrics

Claim 1

A detergent bleach composition comprising an anionic, nonionic, semi-polar, ampholytic, or zwitterionic surfactant and from 0.005% to 0.5% by weight of the composition of a water soluble photoactivator having the formula wherein each X is (=N-) or (= CY -), and the total number of (=N-) groups is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; wherein each Y, independently, is hydrogen or meso substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl,alkaryl or heteroaryl; wherein each R, independently, is hydrogen or pyrrole substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, alkaryl or heteroaryl, or wherein adjacent pairs of R's are joined together with ortho-arylene groups to form pyrrole substituted alicyclic or heterocyclic rings; wherein A is 2(H) atoms bonded to diagonallv opposite nitrogen atoms, or Zn(II), Ca(II), Cd(II), Mg(II), Sc(III), Al(III) or Sn(IV); wherein M is a counterion to the solubilizing groups; wherein s is the number of solubilizing groups; and wherein substituted into Y or R is B, a solubilizing group selected from the group consisting of (a) cationic groups, where M. is an anion and s is from 1 to about 8; (b) polyethoxylate nonionic groups -(CH 2 CH 2 O) n H, where M is z:ero, s is from 1 to about 8, and N = (sn) = the number of (condensed ethylene oxide molecules per porphine molecule) is from about 8 to about 50; (c)proximate anionic groups attached to atoms no more than 5 atoms displaced from the porphine core, where M is cationic and s is from 3 to about 8; and (d) remote anionic groups attached to atoms more than 5 atoms displaced from the porphine core, where M is cationic and s is from 2 to about 8; wherein said alkyl groups are comprised of simple carbon chains or carbon chains interrupted by other chain-forming atoms; and provided that when the solubilizing groups are sulfonate, the number of said sulfonate groups is no greater in number than. the number of aromatic and heterocyclic substituent groups, and either (i) said sulfonate groups are remote or (ii) the number of (=N-) groups in the photo-activator formula is 0, 1, 2 or 3.