Quaternary ammonium or phosphonium peroxy carbonic acid precursors and their use in detergent bleach compositions

Claim 2

A bleach precursor compound having the formula: wherein: R₁, R₂ and R₃ are each a radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkaryl, aryl, phenyl, hydroxyalkyl, polyoxyalkylene and R₄OCOL; or two or more or R₁, R₂, and R₃ together form an alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring system; or at least one of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is attached to R₄ to form an alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted, nitrogen-­containing heterocyclic ring system; R₄ is selected from a bridging group consisting of alkylene, cycloalkylene, alkylenephenylene, phenylene, arylene, and polyalkoxylene and wherein the bridging group can be unsubstituted or substituted with C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, alkenyl, benzyl, phenyl and aryl radicals; Z⁻ is a monovalent or multivalent anion leading to charge neutrality when combined with Q⁺ in the appropriate ratio and wherein Z⁻ is sufficiently oxidatively stable not to interfere significantly with bleaching by a peroxy carbonic acid; Q is nitrogen or phosphorus; and L is selected from the group consisting of: wherein : R₅ and R₆ are a C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group, R₇ is H or R₅, and Y is H or a solubilizing group, selected from -SO⁻₃M⁺, -COO⁻M⁺, -SO⁻₄M⁺, -N⁺(R₅)₃X⁻, NO₂OH, and O←N(R₅)₂ and mixtures thereof; M⁺ is a hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or alkyl or hydroxyalkyl-substituted ammonium cation. X⁻ is a halide, hydroxide, phosphate, sulphate, methyl sulphate or acetate anion.

Claim 3

The precursor of Claim 1 wherein L has the formula: - O -- -SO₃⁻M⁺ wherein M⁺ is a sodium, potassium or ammonium cation.

Claim 4

The precursor of Claim 1 wherein Q is nitrogen and R₁, R₂ and R₃ are each the same or different and selected from C₁-C₂₀ atom radicals selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylaryl, benzyl, hydroxyalkyl, and heterocyclic rings containing the quaternary nitrogen where R₁ and R₄ or R₁ and R₂ are joined together, and mixtures of groups thereof.

Claim 5

The precursor of Claim 3 wherein R₁ is selected from short-chain C₁-C₄ alkyl radicals.

Claim 6

The precursor of Claim 4 wherein R₂ and R₃ are each a longer chain C₇-C₂₀ alkyl or alkylaryl radical.

Claim 7

The precursor of Claim 5 wherein said longer chain radical is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, lauryl and stearyl groups.

Claim 8

The precursor of Claims 1-4 wherein R₄ is selected from a bridging group consisting of C₂-C₂₀ alkylene, C₆-C₁₂ phenylene, C₅-C₂₀ cycloalkylene, and C₈-C₂₀ alkylphenylene groups.

Claim 9

The precursor of Claim 7 wherein the R₄ bridging group is a C₂-C₆ alkylene or C₆-C₁₂ phenylene group.

Claim 10

The precursor of Claim 3 wherein said heterocyclic ring is selected from pyridine, morpholine, pyrrolidone, piperidine and piperazine.

Claim 11

The precursor of Claim 1 wherein Y is a sulphonic acid salt.

Claim 12

The precursor of Claim 1 wherein the compound is 2-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)ethyl 4-sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 13

The precursor of Claim 1 wherein the compound is 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)ethyl 4-sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 14

The precursor of Claim 1 wherein the compound is 2-(N-butyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)ethyl 4-sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 15

The precursor of Claim 1 wherein the compound is 2-[4-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)phenyl]ethyl 4-­sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 16

The precursor of Claim 1 wherein the compound is 3-(1,1-dimethylpiperidinium) 4-sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 17

The precursor of Claim 1 wherein the compound is 4-(1,1-dimethylpiperidinium) 4-sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 18

A bleaching-detergent composition comprising: (i) from 1 to 60% of a peroxygen compound capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution; (ii) from 0.1 to 40% of a bleach precursor having the formula: wherein: R₁, R₂ and R₃ are each a radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkaryl, aryl, phenyl, hydroxyalkyl, polyoxyalkylene and R₄OCOL; or two or more of R₁, R₂, and R₃ together form an alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring system; or at least one of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is attached to R₄ to form an alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted, nitrogen-­containing heterocyclic ring system; R₄ is selected from a bridging group consisting of alkylene, cycloalkylene, alkylenephenylene, phenylene, arylene, and polyalkoxylene and wherein the bridging group can be unsubstituted or substituted with C₁-C₂₀ atoms selected from alkyl, alkenyl, benzyl, phenyl and aryl radicals; Z⁻ is a monovalent or multivalent anion leading to charge neutrality when combined with Q⁺ in the appropriate ratio and wherein Z⁻ is sufficiently oxidatively stable not to interfere significantly with bleaching by a peroxy carbonic acid; Q is nitrogen or phosphorus; and L is selected from the group consisting of wherein : R₅ and R₆ are a C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group, R₇ is H or R₅, and Y is H or a solubilizing group, selected from -SO⁻₃M⁺, -COO⁻M⁺, -SO⁻₄M⁺, -N⁺(R₅)₃X⁻, NO₂, OH, and O←N(R₅)₂ and mixtures thereof; M⁺ is a hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or alkyl or hydroxyalkyl-substituted ammonium cation. X⁻ is a halide, hydroxide, phosphate, sulphate, methyl sulphate or acetate anion; (iii) from 0 to 50% of a surfactant; and (iv) from 0 to 70% of a detergent builder.

Claim 19

A bleaching-detergent composition comprising: (i) from 1 to 60% of a peroxygen compound capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution; (ii) from 0.1 to 40% of a bleach precursor having the formula: wherein: R₁, R₂ and R₃ are each a radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkaryl, aryl, phenyl, hydroxyalkyl, polyoxyalkylene and R₄OCOL; or two or more of R₁, R₂, and R₃ together form an alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted, nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring system; or at least one of R₁, R₂, and R₃ is attached to R₄ to form an alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted, nitrogen-­containing heterocyclic ring system; R₄ is selected from a bridging group consisting of alkylene, cycloalkylene, alkylenephenylene, phenylene, arylene, and polyalkoxylene and wherein the bridging group can be unsubstituted or substituted with C₁-C₂₀ atoms selected from alkyl, alkenyl, benzyl, phenyl and aryl radicals; Z⁻ is a monovalent or multivalent anion leading to charge neutrality when combined with Q⁺ in the appropriate ratio and wherein Z⁻ is sufficiently oxidatively stable not to interfere significantly with bleaching by a peroxy carbonic acid; Q is nitrogen or phosphorus; and L is selected from the group consisting of wherein : R₅ and R₆ are a C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group, R₇ is H or R₅, and Y is H or a solubilizing group, selected from -SO⁻₃M⁺, -COO⁻M⁺, -SO⁻₄M⁺, -N⁺(R₅)₃X⁻, NO₂, OH, and O←N(R₅)₂ and mixtures thereof; M⁺ is a hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or alkyl or hydroxyalkyl-substituted ammonium cation. X⁻ is a halide, hydroxide, phosphate, sulphate, methyl sulphate or acetate anion; (iii) from 0 to 50% of a surfactant; and (iv) from 0 to 70% of a detergent builder.

Claim 20

The composition of Claim 17 wherein the surfactant ranges from 4 to 50% and the detergent builder ranges from 5 to 80% by weight.

Claim 21

The composition of Claim 17 wherein L has the formula: wherein M⁺ is a sodium, potassium or ammonium cation.

Claim 22

The composition of Claim 17 wherein Q is nitrogen and R₁, R₂ and R₃ are each the same or different and selected from C₁-C₂₀ atom radicals selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylaryl, benzyl, hyydroxyalkyl, and heterocyclic rings containing the quaternary nitrogen where R₁ and R₄ or R₁ and R₂ are joined together, and mixtures of groups thereof.

Claim 23

The composition of Claim 20 wherein R₁ is selected from short-chain C₁-C₄ alkyl radicals.

Claim 24

The composition of Claim 21 wherein R₂ and R₃ are each a longer chain C₇-C₂₀ alkyl or alkylaryl radical.

Claim 25

The composition of Claim 22 wherein said longer chain radical is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, lauryl and stearyl groups.

Claim 26

The composition of Claim 17 wherein R₄ is selected from a bridging group consisting of C₂-C₂₀ alkylene, C₆-C₁₂ phenylene, C₅-C₂₀ cycloalkylene, and C₈-C₂₀ alkylphenylene groups.

Claim 27

The composition of Claim 24 wherein the R₄ bridging group is a C₂-C₆ alkylene or C₆-C₁₂ phenylene group.

Claim 28

The composition of Claim 20 wherein said heterocyclic ring is selected from pyridine, morpholine, pyrrolidone, piperidine and piperazine.

Claim 29

The composition of Claim 17 wherein Y is a sulphonic acid salt.

Claim 30

The composition of Claim 17 wherein the precursor is 2-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)ethyl sodium 4-­sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 31

The composition of Claim 17 wherein the precursor is 2-(N-benzyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)ethyl sodium 4-­sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 32

The composition of Claim 17 wherein the precursor is 2-(N-butyl-N,N-dimethylammonium)ethyl sodium 4-­sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 33

The composition of Claim 17 wherein the precursor is 2-[4-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)phenyl]ethyl sodium 4-­sulphophenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 34

The composition of Claim 17 wherein the precursor is sodium 3-(1,1-dimethylpiperidinium) 4-sulphphenyl carbonate salt.

Claim 35

The composition of Claim 17 wherein the precursor is sodium 4-(1,1-dimethylpiperidinium) 4-sulphophenyl carbonate salt.