Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.

David J Batal

Stephen A Madison

Laurence Boen

Steven A Madison

Novel bleach catalysts, a method for bleaching substrates using these catalysts and detergent compositions containing the catalysts are reported. The catalysts are sulfonimines. Substrates such as fabrics may be bleached in an aqueous solution containing the sulfonimine and a peroxygen compound.

Sulfonimines as bleach catalysts

A process is provided for preparing 1,2-benzisothiazole-1,1-dioxides having structure (1): ##STR1## where R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl or aryl radical, the process comprising the steps of:

Synthesis of 1,2-benzisothiazole-1,1-dioxides

Novel bleaches are reported. The bleaches are of the N-sulfonyloxaziridine type. Substrates such as fabrics may be bleached in an aqueous solution containing the oxaziridine.

N-sulfonyloxaziridines as bleaching compounds

An improved process is described for obtaining triazacyclononanes, esepcially 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononame. The first step involves reacting diethylenetriamine (DET) with a sulfonylation agent to form a sulfonamidated DET, in an aqueous medium with an inorganic base. In a second step, but preferably within the same reactor vessel without isolating intermediates, the sulfonamidated DET aqueous mixture is contacted with an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of a cyclizing unit such as ethylene glycol ditosylate or ethylene dibromide, thereby resulting in a cyclized sulfonamidated triamine compound. Thereafter the protecting groups are removed and the amine is alkylated, preferably within a single reaction vessel without isolation of intermediates.

Improved synthesis of 1,4,7-triazacyclononane

A bleaching composition is described that includes a peroxygen compound such as sodium perborate, an oxygen transfer agent such as a sulfonimine, and a bleach precursor such as TAED. These sulfonimines at relatively low concentrations enhance the activity of the precursor. A method for bleaching substrates is also provided, especially a method for cleaning fabrics.

Activation of bleach precursors with sulfonimines

Novel bleaches, a method for bleaching substrates using these materials and detergent compositions containing same are reported. The bleaches are of the N-sulfonyloxaziridine type. Substrates such as fabrics may be bleached in an aqueous solution containing the oxaziridine.

Growing community of inventors

Secaucus, NJ, United States of America

David J Batal