Mixed peroxygen activator compositions
Reference Number: N 03-02A
Inventors: Alvarez, Vincent E.; Deline, James E.; Foland, Lafayette D.; Kaaret, Thomas W.; Petrin, Michael J.; Smith, William L.; Sudbury, Barry A.; Zielske, Alfred G.
Owner: NISTAC
USPTO Link:5814242
Invention Summary
In one aspect of the present invention, nitrites are provided in substantially solid
form having the structure of Formula I ##STR3## wherein A is a saturated ring formed
by five atoms in addition to the N.sub.1 atom, the five saturated ring atoms being
four carbon atoms and a heteroatom, the substituent R.sub.1 bound to the N.sub.1 atom
of the Formula I structure including either (a) a C.sub.1-24 alkyl or alkoxylated
alkyl where the alkoxy is C.sub.2-4, (b) a C.sub.4-24 cycloalkyl, (c) a C.sub.7-24
alkaryl, (d) a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxy or alkoxylated alcohol, where the
alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4, or (e) --CR.sub.2 R.sub.3 C.tbd.N where R.sub.2 and R.sub.3
are each H, a C.sub.1-24 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkaryl, or a repeating or nonrepeating
alkoxyl or alkoxylated alcohol where the alkoxy unit is C.sub.2-4.
The Formula I compounds have a quaternary nitrogen atom (N.sub.1), requiring the
presence of at least one counterion (Y) to be associated therewith, which is illustrated
in Formula I as "Y.sup..theta.," but as understood can be monovalent, or multivalent.
Y includes counterions, or organic and inorganic anions, such as chloride, bromide,
nitrate, alkyl sulfate, bisulfate, sulfate, tosylate, and mesylate. Especially preferred
are methyl sulfate, sulfate, bisulfate, tosylate, and mixtures thereof. Z will be
in the range of 0 to 10. These compounds, or salts, are particularly well suited to
granule bleaching and cleaning compositions.
The nitriles with the Formula I structure are particularly useful when formulated
as compositions that include a source of active oxygen, and these compositions provide
excellent bleaching in alkaline solutions.
Preferred embodiments include lower alkyls substituted at the N.sub.1, e.g. N-methyl
morpholinium acetonitrile, N-ethyl morpholinium acetonitrile, N-butyl morpholinium
acetonitrile, which are illustrated by Formula II (with "n" preferably being 0 to
24 and where "Y" is one of the above described counterions). ##STR4##
A particularly preferred embodiment is an N-methyl morpholinium acetonitrile salt
where "n" of Formula II is 0. A composition useful for bleaching comprises a heterocyclic
cationic species either capable of forming a peroxyimidic acid with a source of active
oxygen in aqueous solution, or already being in a peroxyimidic form, and an anionic
species either capable of forming a peracid with a source of active oxygen in aqueous
solution, or being already in a peracid form, or a non-anionic polarizable activator
and suitable counterion. These compositions can be liquid, solid, or formulated for
dual dispensing. A particularly preferred embodiment is the use of preformed ion-pairs
with selected cationic heterocyclic quaternary (e.g. nitrile) activators and anionic
activators in which the activators act as co-counterions.
Compositions including these nitriles are useful, for example, in laundry products,
such as bleaching additives, detergents, detergent boosters, detergents with bleach,
bleaches, bleaching aids, stain removers, and spot treatment products such as stain
removers, prewash and presoak laundry aids. Among the advantages derived from such
compositions are improved cleaning, stain removal, spot removal, whitening, and brightening
of treated articles.