Ethylsulfonate-alkylamine copolymers as colorant backbones

Claim 2

A copolymer consisting essentially of a plurality of ethylsulfonate and 2 to 6 carbon atom lower alkylamine groups, the sum of the number of ethylsulfonate groups and lower alkylamine groups being from 20 to 8000 and the number of lower alkylamine groups being from 0.4 to 2.5 times the number of ethylsulfonate groups.

Claim 3

The copolymer of claim 1 wherein said copolymer is represented by the structural formula: ##STR25## wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and 1 to 4 carbon saturated alkyls, R 3 is a 1 to 4 carbon saturated alkyl, R 4 is selected from the group of carbon-nitrogen single bond and 1 to 4 carbon lower saturated alkyls and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 together contain not more than 5 carbon atoms; n and m are integers, n + m is equal to 20 to 8000, n is from 0.4 to 2.5 m and M + is an alkali metal cation.

Claim 4

The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the lower alkyl amine is ethylamine, the sum of units of ethylamine and ethylsulfonate is from 20 to 8000 and the number of units of ethyl sulfonate is from 0.6 to 1.5 times the number of units of ethylamine.

Claim 5

The copolymer of claim 3 wherein the alkali metal is sodium.

Claim 6

A polymeric colorant comprising the copolymer of claim 3 having units of chromophoric group covalently bonded to from 30 to 70% of the units of ethylamine.

Claim 7

The polymeric colorant of claim 5 wherein said chromophoric group is selected from the anthraquinone and azo chromophoric groups.

Claim 8

The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the lower alkylamine is 3-methylpiperidine and the sum of units of 3-methylpiperidine and ethyl sulfonate is from 20 to 8000 and the number of units of ethyl sulfonate is from 0.6 to 1.5 times the number of units of 3-methylpiperidine.

Claim 9

A polymeric colorant comprising a copolymer consisting essentially of a plurality of ethylsulfonate and 2 to 6 carbon atoms lower alkylamine groups, the sum of the number of ethylsulfonate groups and lower alkylamine groups being from 20 to 8000 and the number of lower alkylamine groups being from 0.4 to 2.5 times the number of ethylsulfonate groups having a plurality of chromophoric group units covalently bonded thereto through said lower alkylamine groups.

Claim 10

A polymeric colorant comprising a copolymer consisting essentially of a plurality of ethylsulfonate and 2 to 6 carbon atoms lower alkylamine groups, the sum of the number of ethylsulfonate groups and lower alkylamine groups being from 20 to 8000 and the number of lower alkylamine groups being from 0.4 to 2.5 times the number of ethylsulfonate groups having a plurality of chromophoric group units covalently bonded thereto through said lower alkylamine groups.

Claim 11

The polymeric colorant of claim 8 wherein said chromophoric group is selected from the anthraquinone and azo chromophoric groups.

Claim 12

A polymeric colorant comprising a copolymer consisting essentially of a plurality of repeating units of ethylsulfonate and ethylamine the sum of the number of units of ethylsulfonate and ethylamine being from 20 to 8000 and the number of ethylamine units being from 0.5 to 2.5 times the number of ethylsulfonate units and having units of chromophoric group covalently bonded to from 30% to 70% of the units of ethylamine said chromophoric group having the structure ##STR26## wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a saturated alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms inclusive, and about 6 carbon aryls; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of 1 to 4 carbon inclusive saturated alkyls, 1 to 4 carbon inclusive alkoxies and about 6 carbon aryls; and R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and 1 to 4 carbon saturated alkyls.

Claim 13

A polymeric colorant comprising a copolymer consisting essentially of a plurality of repeating units of ethylsulfonate and ethylamine the sum of the number of units of ethylsulfonate and ethylamine being from 20 to 8000 and the number of ethylamine units being from 0.5 to 2.5 times the number of ethylsulfonate units and having units of chromophoric group covalently bonded to from 30% to 70% of the units of ethylamine said chromophoric group having the structure ##STR26## wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a saturated alkyl of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms inclusive, and about 6 carbon aryls; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of 1 to 4 carbon inclusive saturated alkyls, 1 to 4 carbon inclusive alkoxies and about 6 carbon aryls; and R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and 1 to 4 carbon saturated alkyls.

Claim 14

The polymeric colorant of claim 10 wherein R 1 is hydrogen, R 2 is methyl and R 3 is methyl.

Claim 15

The polymeric colorant of claim 10 wherein R 1 is hydrogen, R 2 is ethoxy and R 3 is methyl.

Claim 16

A polymeric colorant consisting essentially of ##STR27## wherein m + n + m equals from 100 to 3000, n equals from 0.5 to 2.5 times the sum of m + m, and m equals from 0.3 to 0.7 times the sum of m + m.

Claim 17

A polymeric colorant consisting essentially of ##STR27## wherein m + n + m equals from 100 to 3000, n equals from 0.5 to 2.5 times the sum of m + m, and m equals from 0.3 to 0.7 times the sum of m + m.

Claim 18

A polymeric colorant consisting essentially of ##STR28## wherein m + n + m equals from 100 to 300, n equals from 0.5 to 2.5 times the sum of m + m, and m equals from 0.3 to 0.7 times the sum of m + m.

Claim 19

A polymeric colorant consisting essentially of ##STR28## wherein m + n + m equals from 100 to 300, n equals from 0.5 to 2.5 times the sum of m + m, and m equals from 0.3 to 0.7 times the sum of m + m.

Claim 20

A polymeric colorant consisting essentially of ##STR29## wherein m + n + m equals from 100 to 3000, n equals from 0.5 to 2.5 times the sum of m + m, and m equals from 0.3 to 0.7 times the sum of m + m.

Claim 21

A polymeric colorant consisting essentially of ##STR29## wherein m + n + m equals from 100 to 3000, n equals from 0.5 to 2.5 times the sum of m + m, and m equals from 0.3 to 0.7 times the sum of m + m.

Claim 22

A polymeric colorant consisting essentially of ##STR30## wherein m + n + m equals from 100 to 3000, n equals from 0.5 to 2.5 times the sum of m + m, and m equals from 0.3 to 0.7 times the sum of m + m.

Claim 23

A polymeric colorant consisting essentially of ##STR30## wherein m + n + m equals from 100 to 3000, n equals from 0.5 to 2.5 times the sum of m + m, and m equals from 0.3 to 0.7 times the sum of m + m.