Anionic surfactants and washing agents containing said surfactants

Abstract

Surfactants of general formula (I), in which R.sup.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl residue having 6 to 20, and in particular 8 to 14 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes H or CH.sub.3, and M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atom, can be easily incorporated into washing or cleaning agents, have outstanding application-related properties, and can be produced based on renewable resources.

Claims

1. An anionic surfactant of general formula (I), ##STR00003## in which R.sup.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl functional group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes H or CH3, and M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

2. A method for producing an anionic surfactant of general formula (I), ##STR00004## in which R.sup.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl functional group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes H or CH3, and M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, comprising the step of O-alkylation of the hydroxypropyl group or 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-guaiacol or 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyanisole and subsequent sulfonation, where M denotes an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

3. A washing or cleaning agent, comprising an anionic surfactant of general formula (I), ##STR00005## in which R.sup.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl residue having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes H or CH3, and M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

4. The washing or cleaning agent according to claim 3, comprising 1 wt. % to 99 wt. % of the surfactant of general formula (I).

5. The washing or cleaning agent according to claim 4, additionally comprising up to 99 wt. % of a further surfactant.

6. The washing or cleaning agent according to claim 4, wherein the washing or cleaning agent is particulate and comprises builders.

7. The washing or cleaning agent according to claim 4, wherein the washing or cleaning agent is liquid and comprises 1 wt. % to 90 wt. % water, water-miscible solvent or a mixture of water and water-miscible solvent.

8. The washing or cleaning agent according to claim 4, wherein the washing or cleaning agent is present portioned and ready-for-use in individual doses in a chamber formed of water-soluble material.

9. The anionic surfactant, according to claim 1, of general formula (I), ##STR00006## in which R.sup.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl functional group having 8 to 14 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes H or CH3, and M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

10. The method, according to claim 2, for producing an anionic surfactant of general formula (I), ##STR00007## in which R.sup.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl functional group having 8 to 14 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes H or CH3, and M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, comprising the step of O-alkylation of the hydroxypropyl group or 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-guaiacol or 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyanisole and subsequent sulfonation, where M denotes an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

11. The method, according to claim 2, for producing an anionic surfactant of general formula (I), ##STR00008## in which R.sup.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl functional group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes H or CH3, and M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, comprising the step of O-alkylation of the hydroxypropyl group or 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-guaiacol or 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyanisole and neutralization by way of subsequent reaction with MOH, where M denotes an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

12. The washing or cleaning agent, according to claim 3, comprising an anionic surfactant of general formula (I), ##STR00009## in which R′ denotes a linear or branched alkyl residue having 8 to 14 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 denotes H or CH3, and M denotes hydrogen, an alkali metal or an N.sup.+R.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 grouping, in which R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, denote hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

13. The washing or cleaning agent according to claim 4, characterized by comprising 3 wt. % to 85 wt. % of the surfactant of general formula (I).

14. The washing or cleaning agent according to claim 5, characterized by additionally comprising 3 wt. % to 85 wt. % of a further surfactant.

15. The washing or cleaning agent according to claim 6, characterized by being particulate and comprising builders in an amount in the range of 1 wt. % to 60 wt. %.

16. The washing or cleaning agent according to claim 7, characterized by being liquid and comprising 10 wt. % to 85 wt. % water, water-miscible solvent or a mixture of water and water-miscible solvent.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) An agent according to the invention preferably comprises at least one water-soluble and/or water-insoluble, organic and/or inorganic builder. The water-soluble organic builder substances include polycarboxylic acids, in particular citric acid and saccharic acids, monomeric and polymeric aminopolycarboxylic acids, in particular glycine diacetic acid, methylglycine diacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, iminodisuccinates such as ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid and hydroxyiminodisuccinates, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and polyaspartic acid, polyphosphonic acids, in particular aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid), ethylenediaminetetrakis(methylenephosphonic acid), lysine tetra(methylenephosphonic acid) and 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, polymeric hydroxy compounds such as dextrin and polymeric (poly-)carboxylic acids, in particular polycarboxylates accessible by oxidation of polysaccharides, polymeric acrylic acids, methacrylic acids, maleic acids, and mixed polymers of the same, which may also have small fractions of polymerizable substances having no carboxylic acid functionality polymerized into the same. The relative average molar mass of the homopolymers of unsaturated carboxylic acids is generally between 5,000 g/mol and 200,000 g/mol, that of the copolymers is between 2,000 g/mol and 200,000 g/mol, and preferably 50,000 g/mol to 120,000 g/mol, each based on free acid. A particularly preferred acrylic acid/maleic acid copolymer has a relative average molar mass of 50,000 to 100,000. Suitable, albeit less preferred compounds of this class are copolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with vinyl ethers, such as vinyl methyl ethers, vinyl esters, ethylene, propylene and styrene, in which the proportion of the acid is at least 50 wt. %. It is also possible to use terpolymers comprising two unsaturated acids and/or the salts thereof as the monomers, and vinyl alcohol and/or a vinyl alcohol derivative or a carbohydrate as the third monomer, as water-soluble organic builder substances. The first acidic monomer or the salt thereof is derived from a monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3-C.sub.8 carboxylic acid and preferably from a C.sub.3-C.sub.4 monocarboxylic acid, in particular from (meth)acrylic acid. The second acidic monomer or the salt thereof can be a derivative of a C.sub.4-C.sub.8 dicarboxylic acid, wherein maleic acid is particularly preferred. The third monomeric unit is formed in this case by vinyl alcohol and/or preferably an esterified vinyl alcohol. In particular, vinyl alcohol derivatives are preferred which represent an ester of short-chain carboxylic acids, for example of C.sub.1-C.sub.4 carboxylic acids, with vinyl alcohol. Preferred polymers comprise 60 wt. % to 95 wt. %, in particular 70 wt. % to 90 wt. %, (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrylate, and particularly preferably acrylic acid or acrylate, and maleic acid or maleinate, and 5 wt. % to 40 wt. %, preferably 10 wt. % to 30 wt. %, vinyl alcohol and/or vinyl acetate. Most particularly preferred are polymers in which the weight ratio of (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrylate to maleic acid or maleinate ranges between 1:1 and 4:1, preferably between 2:1 and 3:1, and in particular 2:1 and 2.5:1. Both the amounts and the weight ratios are based on the acids. The second acidic monomer or the salt thereof can also be a derivative of an allyl sulfonic acid, which at the 2-position is substituted with an alkyl functional group, preferably a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl functional group, or an aromatic functional group, which is preferably derived from benzene or benzene derivatives. Preferred terpolymers contain 40 wt. % to 60 wt. %, in particular 45 wt. % to 55 wt. %, (meth)acrylic acid or (meth)acrylate, particularly preferably acrylic acid or acrylate, 10 wt. % to 30 wt. %, preferably 15 wt. % to 25 wt. %, methallyl sulfonic acid or methallyl sulfonate, and, as the third monomer, 15 wt. % to 40 wt. %, preferably 20 wt. % to 40 wt. % of a carbohydrate. This carbohydrate can be a monosaccharide, disaccharide, oligosaccharide or polysaccharide, for example, wherein monosaccharides, disaccharides or oligosaccharides are preferred. Sucrose is particularly preferred. As a result of the use of the third monomer, predetermined breaking points are presumably introduced into the polymer, which are responsible for the good biodegradability of the polymer. These terpolymers generally have a relative average molar mass between 1,000 g/mol and 200,000 g/mol, and preferably between 200 g/mol and 50,000 g/mol. Further preferred copolymers are those that contain acrolein and acrylic acid/acrylic acid salts or vinyl acetate as monomers. The organic builders can be used in the form of aqueous solutions, and preferably in the form of 30 to 50 percent by weight aqueous solutions, in particular for the production of liquid agents. All aforementioned acids are generally used in the form of the water-soluble salts thereof, and in particular of the alkali salts thereof.

(2) Such organic builders can be present in amounts up to 40 wt. %, in particular up to 25 wt. %, and preferably from 1 wt. % to 8 wt. %, if desired. Amounts in the upper half of the aforementioned ranges are preferably used for pasty or liquid, in particular hydrous, agents.

(3) Water-soluble inorganic builder materials that can be used are in particular polyphosphates, and preferably sodium triphosphate. Water-insoluble inorganic builder materials that are used are in particular crystalline or amorphous, water-dispersible alkali aluminosilicates, in amounts not above 25 wt. %, preferably from 3 wt. % to 20 wt. %, and in particular in amounts from 5 wt. % to 15 wt. %. Among these, the crystalline sodium aluminosilicates in washing agent quality, in particular zeolite A, zeolite P and zeolite MAP, and optionally zeolite X, are preferred. Amounts close to the aforementioned upper limit are preferably used in solid, particulate agents. Suitable aluminosilicates, in particular, do not comprise any particles having a particle size above 30 μm, and preferably have a content of at least 80 wt. % of particles having a size of less than 10 μm. The calcium-binding capacity is generally in the range of 100 to 200 mg CaO per gram.

(4) In addition, or as an alternative to the described water-insoluble aluminosilicate and alkali carbonate, further water-soluble inorganic builder materials may be present. In addition to the polyphosphates such as sodium triphosphate, these include in particular the water-soluble crystalline and/or amorphous alkali silicate builders. The agents preferably comprise such water-soluble inorganic builder materials in amounts of 1 wt. % to 20 wt. %, and in particular 5 wt. % to 15 wt. %. The alkali silicates that can be used as builder materials preferably have a molar ratio of alkali oxide to SiO.sub.2 of less than 0.95, in particular of 1:1.1 to 1:12 and can be present in amorphous or crystalline form. Preferred alkali silicates are sodium silicates, and in particular the amorphous sodium silicates, having a molar ratio of Na.sub.2O:SiO.sub.2 of 1:2 to 1:2.8. Crystalline silicates, which may be present either alone or in a mixture with amorphous silicates, that are used are preferably crystalline phyllosilicates of general formula Na.sub.2Si.sub.xO.sub.2x+1.Math.y H.sub.2O, where x, the so-called module, is a number from 1.9 to 4, and y is a number from 0 to 20, and preferred values for x are 2, 3 or 4. Preferred crystalline phyllosilicates are those in which x in the above-mentioned general formula takes on the value 2 or 3. In particular, both β- and δ-sodium disilicates (Na.sub.2Si.sub.2O.sub.5.y H.sub.2O) are preferred. Practically anhydrous crystalline alkali silicates, produced from amorphous alkali silicates, of the above general formula, in which x denotes a number from 9 to 2.1, can also be used in the agents. In a further preferred embodiment, a crystalline sodium phyllosilicate having a module of 2 to 3 is used, as it can be produced from sand and soda. Sodium silicates having a module in the range from 1.9 to 3.5 are used in a further embodiment. In a preferred embodiment of such agents, a granular compound composed of alkali silicate and alkali carbonate is used, as is commercially available under the name Nabion® 15, for example.

(5) Possible suitable peroxide bleaching agents include in particular organic peroxy acids or peracid salts of organic acids, such as phthalimidopercaproic acid, perbenzoic acid, monoperoxyphthalic acid and diperdodecanoic diacid and the salts thereof, such as magnesium monoperoxyphthalate, diacyl peroxides, hydrogen peroxide and inorganic salts giving off hydrogen peroxide under the usage conditions, such as alkali perborate, alkali percarbonate and/or alkali persilicate, and hydrogen peroxide clathrates, such as H.sub.2O.sub.2 urea adducts. Hydrogen peroxide may also be created by way of an enzymatic system, which is to say an oxidase and the substrate thereof. To the extent that solid peroxygen compounds are to be used, these may be used in the form of powders or granules, which may also be coated in the manner known per se. The use of alkali percarbonate, alkali perborate monohydrate or hydrogen peroxide is particularly preferred. A washing agent that can be used within the scope of the invention comprises a peroxide bleaching agent in amounts of preferably up to 60 wt. %, in particular of 5 wt. % to 50 wt. %, and particularly preferably of 15 wt. % to 30 wt. %, or alternatively of 2.5 wt. % to 20 wt. %, wherein the particularly preferred peroxide bleaching agent in liquid agents is hydrogen peroxide, and in solid agents it is sodium percarbonate. Peroxide bleaching agent particles preferably have a particle size in the range of 10 μm to 5000 μm, and in particular of 50 μm to 1000 μm, and/or a density of 0.85 g/cm.sup.3 to 4.9 g/cm.sup.3, and in particular of 0.91 g/cm.sup.3 to 2.7 g/cm.sup.3.

(6) In particular, compounds that, under perhydrolysis conditions, yield optionally substituted perbenzoic acid and/or aliphatic peroxocarboxylic acids having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and in particular 2 to 4 carbon atoms, either alone or in mixtures, can be used as the bleach-activating compound yielding peroxocarboxylic acid under perhydrolysis conditions. Suitable bleach activators are those that carry 0- and/or N-acyl groups, in particular having the described carbon atomic number and/or optionally substituted benzoyl groups. Polyacylated alkylenediamines, in particular tetra acetyl ethylene diamine (TAED), acylated glycolurils, in particular tetraacetyl glycoluril (TAGU), acylated triazine derivatives, in particular 1,5-diacetyl-2,4-dioxohexahydro-1,3.5-triazine (DADHT), N-acylimides, in particular N-nonanoyl succinimide (NOSI), acylated phenolsulfonates or phenolcarboxylates or the sulfonic or carboxylic acids of these, in particular nonanoyl or iso-nonanoyl or lauroyl oxybenzene sulfonate (NOBS or iso-NOBS or LOBS), or decanoyloxybenzoate (DOBA), the formal carboxylic acid ester derivatives thereof, such as 4-(2-decanoyloxyethoxycarbonyloxy)benzene sulfonate (DECOBS), acylated polyhydric alcohols, in particular triacetin, ethylene glycol diacetate and 2,5-diacetoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran, and acetylated sorbitol and mannitol and the mixtures thereof (SORMAN), acylated sugar derivatives, in particular penta-acetyl glucose (PAG), penta-acetyl fructose, tetra-acetyl xylose and octa-acetyl lactose, acetylated, optionally N-alkylated glucamine and gluconolactone, and/or N-acylated lactams, for example N-benzoyl caprolactam, are preferred.

(7) In addition to or instead of the compounds that, under perhydrolysis conditions, form peroxocarboxylic acids, further bleach-activating compounds, such as nitriles, which yield perimidic acids under perhydrolysis conditions, may be present. These include, in particular, aminoacetonitrile derivatives comprising a quaternized nitrogen atom according to formula

(8) ##STR00002##
in which R.sup.1 denotes —H, —CH.sub.3, a C.sub.2-24 alkyl or alkenyl functional group, a substituted C.sub.1-24 alkyl functional group or C.sub.2-24 alkenyl functional group comprising at least one substituent from the group —Cl, —Br, —OH, —NH.sub.2, CN and —N.sup.(+)—CH.sub.2—CN, an alkyl or alkenyl aryl functional group having a C.sub.1-24 alkyl group, or a substituted alkyl or alkenyl aryl functional group having at least one, preferably two, optionally substituted C.sub.1-24 alkyl groups and optionally further substituents on the aromatic ring, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, independently of one another, are selected from —CH.sub.2—CN, —CH.sub.3, —CH.sub.2—CH.sub.3, —CH.sub.2—CH.sub.2—CH.sub.3, —CH(CH.sub.3)—CH.sub.3, —CH.sub.2—OH, —CH.sub.2—CH.sub.2—OH, —CH(OH)—CH.sub.3, —CH.sub.2—CH.sub.2—CH.sub.2—OH, —CH.sub.2—CH(OH)—CH.sub.3, —CH(OH)—CH.sub.2—CH.sub.3, —(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—O).sub.nH, where n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, independently of one another, have a meaning stated above for R.sup.1, R.sup.2 or R.sup.3, wherein at least two of the aforementioned functional group, in particular R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, may be linked to one another so as to close the ring, including the nitrogen atom and optionally further heteroatoms, and then preferably form a morpholino ring, and X is a charge-equalizing anion, preferably selected from benzene sulfonate, toluene sulfonate, cumol sulfonate, the C.sub.9-15 alkylbenzene sulfonates, the C.sub.1-20 alkyl sulfates, the C.sub.8-22 carboxylic acid methyl ester sulfonates, sulfate, hydrogen sulfate, and the mixture thereof, can be used. Bleach activators forming peroxocarboxylic acids or perimidic acids under perhydrolysis conditions are preferably present in amounts up to 25 wt. %, and in particular 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. % in the agents according to the invention. Bleach activator particles preferably have a particle size in the range of 10 μm to 5000 and in particular of 50 μm to 1000 and/or a density of 0.85 g/cm.sup.3 to 4.9 g/cm.sup.3, and in particular of 0.91 g/cm.sup.3 to 2.7 g/cm.sup.3.

(9) It is possible for bleach-catalyzing transition metal complexes to be present, either in addition to or instead of the aforementioned bleach activators. These are preferably selected among the cobalt, iron, copper, titanium, vanadium, manganese and ruthenium complexes. Possible ligands in such transition metal complexes are either inorganic or organic compounds, which in addition to carboxylates, include in particular compounds having primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine and/or alcohol functions, such as pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, imidazole, pyrazole, triazole, 2,2′-bispyridyl amine, tris-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, 1,4,7-triazacyclononane, 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, 1,5,9-trimethyl-1,5,9-triazacyclododecane, (bis-((1-methylimidazol-2-yl)-methyl))-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, N,N′-(bis-(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)-methyl)ethylenediamine, N-bis-(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amino ethanol, 2,6-bis-(bis-(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)aminomethyl)-4-methylphenol, N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis-(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane, 2,6-bis-(bis-(2-pyridyl-methyl)aminomethyl)-4-methylphenol, 1,3-bis-(bis-(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)aminomethyl)benzene, sorbitol, mannitol, erythritol, adonitol, inositol, lactose, and optionally substituted salenes, porphins and porphyrins. The inorganic neutral ligands include in particular ammonia and water. If not all coordination sites of the central transition metal atom are occupied by neutral ligands, the complex comprises further, preferably anionic and, among these, in particular monodentate or bidentate, ligands. These include, in particular, the halides, such as fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide, and the (NO.sub.2).sup.− group, which is to say a nitro ligand or a nitrito ligand. The (NO.sub.2).sup.− group can also be bound to a transition metal in a chelating manner, or it may asymmetrically or μ.sup.1-O bridge two transition metal atoms. In addition to the above-mentioned ligands, the transition metal complexes can carry further ligands, which generally have simpler structures, and in particular monovalent or polyvalent anionic ligands. For example, nitrate, acetate, trifluoroacetate, formate, carbonate, citrate, oxalate, perchlorate and complex anions such as hexafluorophosphate may be used. The anionic ligands are to ensure the charge equalization between the central transition metal atom and the ligand system. The presence of oxo ligands, peroxo ligands and imino ligands is also possible. In particular, these ligands may also have a bridging effect, whereby multinuclear complexes are created. In the case of bridged, binuclear complexes, the two metal atoms in the complex do not have to be identical. It is also possible to use binuclear complexes in which the two central transition metal atoms have differing oxidation numbers. If anionic ligands are absent or the presence of anionic ligands does not result in charge equalization in the complex, anionic counterions are present in the transition metal complex compounds to be used according to the invention, which neutralize the cationic transition metal complex. These anionic counterions include in particular nitrate, hydroxide, hexafluorophosphate, sulfate, chlorate, perchlorate, the halides such as chloride, or the anions of carboxylic acids such as formate, acetate, oxalate, benzoate or citrate. Examples of transition metal complex compounds that may be used include [N,N′-bis[(2-hydroxy-5-vinylphenyl)-methylene]-1,2-diamino-cyclohexane]-manganese-(III)-chloride, [N,N′-bis[(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)-methylene]-1,2-diamino-cyclohexane]-manganese-(111)-acetate, [N,N′-bis[(2-hydroxyphenyl)-methylene]-1,2-phenylendiamine]-manganese-(111)-acetate, [N,N′-bis[(2-hydroxyphenyl)-methylene]-1,2-diaminocyclohexane]-manganese-(111)-chloride, [N,N′-bis[(2-hydroxyphenyl)-methylene]-1,2-diaminoethane]-manganese-(111)-chloride, [N,N′-bis[(2-hydroxy-5-sulfonatophenyl)-methylene]-1,2-diaminoethane]-manganese-(111)-chloride, manganese-oxalato complexes, nitropentamminecobalt(111) chloride, nitritopentamminecobalt(111) chloride, hexamminecobalt(111) chloride, chloropentamminecobalt(111) chloride, and the peroxo complex [(NH.sub.3).sub.5Co—O—O—Co(NH.sub.3).sub.5]Cl.sub.4.

(10) Enzymes that can be used in the agents include those of the class of proteases, amylases, lipases, cutinases, pullulanases, hemicellulases, cellulases, oxidases, laccases and peroxidases, and the mixtures thereof. Particularly suited are enzymatic active ingredients obtained from fungi or bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus lentus, Streptomyces griseus, Humicola lanuginosa, Humicola insolens, Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes, Pseudomonas cepacia or Coprinus cinereus. The enzymes can be adsorbed on carrier substances and/or be embedded in coating substances to protect them against premature inactivation. These are preferably present in the washing or cleaning agents according to the invention in amounts up to 5 wt. %, and in particular of 0.002 wt. % to 4 wt. %. If the agent according to the invention comprises protease, this preferably has a proteolytic activity in the range of approximately 100 PE/g to approximately 10,000 PE/g, and in particular 300 PE/g to 8000 PE/g. If several enzymes are to be used in the agent according to the invention, this may be carried out by incorporating two or more enzymes that are separate or separately formulated in the known manner, or by two or more enzymes that are formulated together in granules.

(11) To set a desired pH value that does not result on its own by virtue of mixing the remaining components, the agents according to the invention can comprise system-compatible and environmentally friendly acids, in particular citric acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid and/or adipic acid, but also mineral acids, in particular sulfuric acid, or bases, in particular ammonium hydroxides or alkali hydroxides. Such pH regulators are preferably present in the agents according to the invention in amounts not above 20 wt. %, and in particular of 1.2 wt. % to 17 wt. %.

(12) The task of graying inhibitors is to maintain the dirt dissolved from the textile fibers suspended in the liquor. Water-soluble colloids, usually of an organic nature, are suitable for this purpose, such as starch, sizing material, gelatin, salts of ether carboxylic acids or ether sulfonic acids of starch or cellulose, or salts of acidic sulfuric acid esters of cellulose or starch. Water-soluble, acid group-containing polyamides are also suitable for this purpose.

(13) Furthermore, starch derivatives other than those mentioned above may be used, for example aldehyde starches. The use of cellulose ethers, such as carboxymethyl cellulose (Na salt), methyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose and mixed ethers, such as methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl carboxymethyl cellulose and the mixtures thereof, for example in amounts of 0.1 to 5 wt. %, based on the agents, is preferred.

(14) If desired, the agents can comprise a customary dye transfer inhibitor, preferably in amounts up to 2 wt. %, and in particular of 0.1 wt. % to 1 wt. %, which in a preferred embodiment is selected from the polymers of vinylpyrrolidone, vinylimidazole, vinylpyridine-N-oxide, or the copolymers of these. It is possible to use both polyvinylpyrrolidones having molecular weights of 15,000 g/mol to 50,000 g/mol and polyvinylpyrrolidones having higher molecular weights of more than 1,000,000 g/mol, and in particular of 1,500,000 g/mol to 4,000,000 g/mol, for example, N-vinylimidazole/N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, polyvinyloxazolidones, copolymers based on vinyl monomers and carboxylic acid amides, pyrrolidone group-comprising polyesters and polyamides, grafted polyamidoamines and polyethylene imines, polyamine-N-oxide polymers and polyvinyl alcohols. However, it is also possible to use enzymatic systems, comprising a peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide or a substance yielding hydrogen peroxide in water. The addition of a mediator compound for the peroxidase, for example of an acetosyringone, a phenol derivative or a phenothiazine or phenoxazine, is preferred in this case, wherein in addition the above-mentioned polymeric dye transfer inhibitor active ingredients can also be used. Polyvinylpyrrolidone preferably has an average molar mass in the range of 10,000 g/mol to 60,000 g/mol, and in particular in the range of 25,000 g/mol to 50,000 g/mol. Among the copolymers, those composed of vinylpyrrolidone and vinylimidazole in a molar ratio of 5:1 to 1:1, having an average molar mass in the range of 5,000 g/mol to 50,000 g/mol, and in particular of 10,000 g/mol to 20,000 g/mol, are preferred. In preferred embodiments of the invention, however, the washing agents are free from such added dye transfer inhibitors.

(15) Washing agents can comprise derivatives of diaminostilbene disulfonic acid or the alkali metal salts thereof, for example, as optical brighteners, although they are preferably free from optical brighteners when used as washing agents for colored textiles. For example, salts of 4,4′-bis(2-anilino-4-morpholino-1,3,5-triazinyl-6-amino)stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid or similarly structured compositions are suitable, which carry a diethanolamino group, a methylamino group, an anilino group or a 2-methoxyethylamino group instead of the morpholino group. Moreover, brighteners of the type of substituted diphenylstyryls can be present, for example the alkali salts of 4,4′-bis(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyl, 4,4′-bis(4-chloro-3-sulfostyryl)biphenyl, or 4-(4-chlorostyryl)-4′-(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyls. It is also possible to use mixtures of the aforementioned optical brighteners.

(16) In particular when used with mechanical processes, it may be advantageous to add customary suds suppressors to the agents. For example, soaps of natural or synthetic origin having a high content of C.sub.18-C.sub.24 fatty acids are suitable suds suppressors. Suitable non-surfactant-type suds suppressors are, for example, organopolysiloxanes and the mixtures thereof with micro-fine, optionally silanized silicic acid and paraffins, waxes, microcrystalline waxes and the mixtures thereof with silanized silicic acid or bis-fatty acid alkylene diamides. Advantageously, mixtures of different suds suppressors are also used, for example those composed of silicones, paraffins or waxes. The suds suppressors, and in particular silicone-comprising and/or paraffin-comprising suds suppressors, are preferably bound to a granular carrier substance that is soluble or dispersible in water. In particular, mixtures of paraffins and ethylene distearylamide are preferred.

(17) In a preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention is particulate and, in addition to the surfactant of general formula (I), comprises builders, in particular in an amount in the range of 1 wt. % to 60 wt. %.

(18) In a further preferred embodiment, an agent according to the invention is liquid and comprises 1 wt. % to 90 wt. %, in particular 10 wt. % to 85 wt. %, preferably 25 wt. % to 75 wt. %, and particularly preferably 35 wt. % to 65 wt. % water, water-miscible solvent or a mixture of water and water-miscible solvent. Water-miscible solvents include, for example, monohydric alcohols comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, in particular methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and tert-butanol, diols and triols comprising 2 to 4 carbon atoms, in particular ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol, and the mixtures thereof and ethers thereof derivable from the aforementioned compound classes. Such water-miscible solvents are preferably present in the agents according to the invention in amounts not above 30 wt. %, and in particular of 2 wt. % to 20 wt. %.

(19) In a further preferred embodiment, the agent according to the invention is present portioned and ready-for-use in individual doses in a chamber formed of water-soluble material. A portion represents an independent dosing unit with at least one chamber, in which product to be dosed is present. A chamber is a space that is delimited by walls (by a film, for example) and can also exist without the product to be dosed (if necessary, in a changed shaped). A surface coating or a layer of a surface coating thus does not constitute a wall according to the present invention.

(20) The walls of the chamber are made of a water-soluble material. The water solubility of the material can be determined by way of a square film of said material (film: 22×22 mm having a thickness of 76 μm) fixed with the aid of a square frame (edge length on the inside: 20 mm), according to the following measuring protocol. Said framed film is immersed in 800 ml distilled water controlled to 20° C. in a 1-liter beaker glass having a circular base area (Schott, Mainz, beaker glass 1000 mL, low shape), so that the surface area of the tensioned film is arranged at a right angle with respect to the base area of the beaker glass, the upper edge of the frame is located 1 cm beneath the water surface, and the lower edge of the frame is oriented parallel to the base area of the beaker glass in such a way that the lower edge of the frame extends along the radius of the base area of the beaker glass, and the center of the lower edge of the frame is arranged above the center of the radius of the beaker glass bottom. The material dissolves, when stirred (stirring speed of magnetic stirrer 300 rpm, stirring rod: 5 cm long), within 600 seconds in such a way that individual solid particles can no longer be detected with the naked eye.

(21) The walls of the chambers, and thus the water-soluble wrappings of the washing agents according to the invention are preferably formed by a water-soluble film material. Such water-soluble packagings can be produced using either vertical form fill sealing methods or using thermoforming methods.

(22) The thermoforming method generally includes forming a first layer from a water-soluble film material so as to create bulges for receiving a composition therein, filling the composition into the bulges, covering the bulges that are filled with the composition with a second layer made of a water-soluble film material, and sealing the first and second layers together, at least around the bulges.

(23) The water-soluble film material is preferably selected from polymers or polymer mixtures. The wrapping can be formed of one layer, or of two or more layers of the water-soluble film material. The water-soluble film materials of the first layer and of the further layers, if such are present, can be the same or different.

(24) It is preferable for the water-soluble wrapping to comprise polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, and particularly preferably it consists of polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer.

(25) Water-soluble films for producing the water-soluble wrapping are preferably based on a polyvinyl alcohol, or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, having a molecular weight in the range of 10,000 to 1,000,000 gmol.sup.−1, preferably of 20,000 to 500,000 gmol.sup.−1, particularly preferably of 30,000 to 100,000 gmol.sup.−1, and in particular of 40,000 to 80,000 gmol.sup.1.

(26) The polyvinyl alcohol is typically produced by the hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate since the direct synthesis pathway is not possible. The same applies to polyvinyl alcohol copolymers produced accordingly from polyvinyl acetate copolymers. It is preferred if at least one layer of the water-soluble wrapping comprises a polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of hydrolysis of 70 to 100 mol %, preferably 80 to 90 mol %, particularly preferably 81 to 89 mol %, and in particular 82 to 88 mol %.

(27) Additionally, polymers selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid-containing polymers, polyacrylamides, oxazoline polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polylactic acid and/or mixtures of the above polymers can be added to a film material that is suitable for producing the water-soluble wrapping. The co-polymerization of monomers underlying such polymers, either individually or in mixtures of two or more, with vinyl acetate is also possible.

(28) Preferred polyvinyl alcohol copolymers include an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, the salt thereof, or the ester thereof, in addition to vinyl alcohol. In addition to vinyl alcohol, such polyvinyl alcohol copolymers particularly preferably comprise acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters or mixtures thereof; among the esters, C.sub.1-4 alkyl esters or hydroxyalkyl esters are preferred. In addition to vinyl alcohol, likewise preferred polyvinyl alcohol copolymers comprise ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids as further monomers. Suitable dicarboxylic acids are, for example, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid and mixtures thereof, itaconic acid being particularly preferred.

(29) Suitable water-soluble films for use in the wrappings of the water-soluble packagings according to the invention are films sold by MonoSol LLC, for example, by the designation M8630, C8400 or M8900. Other suitable films include films by the designation Solublon® PT, Solublon® GA, Solublon® KC or Solublon® KL from Aicello Chemical Europe GmbH, or the VF-HP films from Kuraray.

(30) The washing or cleaning agent portion, comprising the washing or cleaning agent and the water-soluble wrapping, can comprise one or more chambers. The water-soluble wrappings comprising one chamber can have a substantially dimensionally stable spherical, spheroid-shaped, cubic, cuboid or pillow-shaped design having a circular, elliptic, square or rectangular basic shape. The agent can be present in one or more chambers, if present, of the water-soluble wrapping.

(31) In a preferred embodiment, the water-soluble wrapping comprises two chambers. In this embodiment, the two chambers can each contain a solid partial composition, or can each contain a liquid partial composition, or the first chamber contains a liquid partial composition and the second chamber contains a solid partial composition.

(32) The proportions of the agents contained in the different chambers of a water-soluble wrapping comprising two or more chambers can have the same composition. Preferably, however, the agents in a water-soluble wrapping comprising at least two chambers have partial compositions that differ in at least one ingredient and/or in the content of at least one ingredient. A partial composition of such agents according to the invention preferably comprises an enzyme and/or bleach activator, and a further partial composition present separately therefrom comprises a peroxide bleaching agent, wherein the first partial composition, in particular, does not comprise a peroxide bleaching agent, and the second partial composition, in particular, does not comprise an enzyme and does not comprise a bleach activator.

(33) The portioned packaging in a water-soluble wrapping enables the user to place one or, if desired, multiple, preferably one, of the portions into the washing machine or dishwasher for use, and in particular in the detergent dispenser of a washing machine, or in a receptacle for carrying out a manual washing or cleaning process. Such portioned packagings meet the consumer's desire for simplified dosing. After water is added, the wrapping material dissolves, whereby the ingredients are released and able to develop the action thereof in the liquor. A water-soluble wrapped portion preferably weighs 10 g to 35 g, in particular 12 g to 28 g, and particularly preferably 12 g to 15 g, wherein the proportion of the water-soluble wrapping accounts for 0.3 g to 2.5 g, and in particular 0.7 g to 1.2 g, in the weight information.

(34) The production of solid agents according to the invention does not pose any difficulties and be carried out in the known manner, for example by way of spray drying or granulation, wherein enzymes and potential further thermally sensitive ingredients, such as bleaching agents, are optionally added separately later. To produce agents having increased bulk density, in particular in the range from 650 g/L to 950 g/L, a method comprising an extrusion step is preferred.

(35) Liquid or pasty agents according to the invention in the form of solutions comprising water customary solvents are generally produced by simple mixing of the ingredients, which can be placed into an automatic mixer in substance or as a solution.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Production of 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-guaiacol From Wood

(36) As described in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 8634 to 8639, spruce wood pellets and Raney nickel were suspended in a 2-propanol/water mixture and heated in the autoclave for 3 hours to 180° C. The resultant organic oil was separated from the remaining solids, and from this 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-guaiacol was quantitatively isolated by way of ball tube distillation.

Example 2: Production of Surfactants According to the Invention

(37) A) Surfactant T1 of general formula (I), where R.sup.1=n-octyl, R.sup.2=CH.sub.3 and M=Na

(38) 30 mmol methyl iodide was slowly added to a solution of 15 mmol 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-guaiacol and 60 mmol potassium carbonate in 125 ml dry acetone under argon. The reaction mixture was stirred for 24 hours under an argon atmosphere at 60° C. Thereafter, the reaction mixture was cooled, diluted with methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and quenched with water. The reaction mixture was extracted with MTBE and washed with aqueous NaCl solution. The organic phase was dried over sodium sulfate and filtered, and the organic solvent was removed by way of distillation. The residue was distilled at reduced pressure, resulting in a yield of 86 percent of 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyanisol. The product was used further without additional purification.

(39) 1 mmol of the 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyanisole thus obtained, in 12 ml dimethyl sulfoxide, was mixed with 335 mg potassium-tert-butanolate and 3 mmol 1-n-octyl bromide and heated at 60° C. After the reaction was complete (ascertained by way of DC), the reaction mixture was extracted with methyl-tert-butyl ether, the organic phase was separated, washed with aqueous 2 wt. % NaHSO.sub.3, water and aqueous NaCl solution, and after the organic phase was dried over Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, the solvent was removed by way of distillation, and the raw product was purified by way of column chromatography. This resulted in a yield of 93 percent of 1,2-dimethoxy-4-(3-(oxtyloxy)propyl)benzene.

(40) 10 mmol of the 1,2-dimethyoxy-4-(3-(oxtyloxy)propyl)benzene thus obtained was reacted with 30 ml 98% H.sub.2SO.sub.4 at 5° C. and stirred for 30 minutes at 5° C. The mixture was heated to room temperature while stirring continued. After the reaction was complete (ascertained by way of DC), the reaction mixture was poured into ice water and neutralized with NaOH. Water was removed by way of distillation, and the residue was placed in methanol. The resultant solution was filtered, and the solvent was removed by way of distillation. This resulted in a yield of 89% of surfactant T1 of general formula (I), where R.sup.1=n-octyl, R.sup.2═CH.sub.3 and M=Na.

(41) B) Surfactant T2 of general formula (I), where R.sup.1=n-tetradecyl, R.sup.2═H and M=Na

(42) 20 mmol 4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-guaiacol, 30 mmol benzyl bromide and 60 mmol potassium carbonate were placed in 100 ml acetone and heated for 18 hours under reflux. Thereafter, the reaction mixture was filtered and concentrated by way of distillation at reduced pressure. The product was isolated by way of ball tube distillation. This resulted in a yield of 93 percent of 3-(4-(benzyloxy)-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol.

(43) 1 mmol of the 3-(4-(benzyloxy)-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol thus obtained, in 12 ml dimethyl sulfoxide, was mixed with 335 mg potassium-tert-butanolate and 3 mmol 1-n-tetradecyl bromide and heated at 60° C. After the reaction was complete (ascertained by way of DC), the reaction mixture was extracted with methyl-tert-butyl ether, the organic phase was separated, washed with aqueous 2 wt. % NaHSO.sub.3, water and aqueous NaCl solution, and after the organic phase was dried over Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, the solvent was removed by way of distillation, and the raw product was purified by way of column chromatography. This resulted in a yield of 85 percent of 1-(benzyloxy)-2-methoxy-4-(3-(tetradecyloxy)propyl)benzene.

(44) A catalytic amount of Pd on carbon (Pd/C, 5%) was added to a solution of 1 mmol of the 1-(benzyloxy)-2-methoxy-4-(3-(tetradecyloxy)propyl)benzene thus obtained in 20 MI dry tetrahydrofuran. After applying hydrogen pressure (5 bar), the reaction mixture was stirred for 8 hours at 40° C. Thereafter, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, the catalyst was removed by way of filtration over Celite, and the solvent was removed by way of distillation. The residue was distilled at reduced pressure, and the raw product was purified by way of column chromatography. This resulted in a yield of 95 percent of 2-methoxy-4-(3-(tetradecyloxy)propyl)phenol.

(45) 10 mmol of the 2-methoxy-4-(3-(tetradecyloxy)propyl)phenol thus obtained was reacted with 30 ml 98% H.sub.2SO.sub.4 at 5° C. and stirred for 30 minutes at 5° C. The mixture was heated to room temperature while stirring continued. After the reaction was complete (ascertained by way of DC), the reaction mixture was poured into ice water and neutralized with NaOH. Water was removed by way of distillation, and the residue was placed in methanol. The resultant solution was filtered, and the solvent was removed by way of distillation. This resulted in a yield of 83% of surfactant T2 of general formula (I), where R.sup.1=n-tetradecyl, R.sup.2═H and M=Na.

(46) C) Surfactant T3 of general formula (I), where R.sup.1=n-decyl, R.sup.2═H and M=Na

(47) Using n-decyl bromide instead of 1-n-tetradecyl bromide, the surfactant according to general formula (I), where R.sup.1=n-decyl, R.sup.2═H and M=Na (T3) was obtained analogously to the procedure described in B) (yields in the individual steps in %: 93/87/92/81).

Example 3: Measurement of the Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC)

(48) The CMC of the surfactants produced in Example 2 was determined by measuring the surface tension of an aqueous solution of the substances as a function of the concentration at 25° C. and a pH of 8.5.

(49) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 CMC values Substance CMC (g/L) T1 1.0 T2 0.01 T3 0.2

Example 4: Measurement of the Interfacial Tension

(50) The interfacial tension of a respective aqueous solution of the substances described in Example 3 and, for comparison, that of petrochemically produced Na dodecyl benzene sulfonate (V1) (concentration 1 g/L in each case) over triolein at pH 8.5 and 25° C. was measured by way of the spinning drop method. After 20 minutes, the values listed in Table 2 were obtained.

(51) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Interfacial tension values Substance γ (mN/ml) V1 0.5 V2 0.5 T2 0.9 T3 0.3

(52) It is apparent that interfacial tensions of the surfactants according to the invention did not deviate significantly from those of the frequently used, petrochemically based surfactant.