Amine oxide compounds

Abstract

Novel amine oxide compounds of the formula ##STR1## in which m is the integer 1 or 2, A is a through-conjugated radical of a fluorescent brightener system, which radical contains unsubstituted or non-chromophorically substituted aromatic carbocyclic and/or heterocyclic rings, X is a direct bond between A and Y, an oxygen atom or sulfur atom or a group of the formula --SO.sub.2 --, --SO.sub.2 --O--, --COO--, --CON(R)-- or --SO.sub.2 N(R)--, in which R is hydrogen or unsubstituted or non-chromophorically substituted alkyl, Y is an unsubstituted or non-chromophorically substituted straight-chain or branched alkylene or alkyleneoxyalkylene group, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently of one another are cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or non-chromophorically substituted alkyl or phenyl, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, are a 5-membered or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring which can additionally contain one or two further hetero-atoms as ring members, and which can be substituted further, or, if X is a group of the formula --CON(R)-- or --SO.sub.2 N(R)-- and Y is ethylene or propylene, R and R.sub.1 together are an ethylene or methylene group, thereby forming a corresponding saturated heterocyclic ring containing 2 nitrogen atoms. The novel amine oxide compounds can be prepared, for example, by oxidizing the corresponding amino compounds with per-compounds. They can be used as fluorescent brighteners, especially for brightening cellulose in a washing liquor. The brighteners exhibit particularly advantageous properties when used in liquid detergents containing cationic textile softeners.