Alpha-sulfoxide and alpha-sulfone carboxyl compounds

• US 4,317,779 A
• Filed: 08/21/1980
• Issued: 03/02/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Crawford, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Niebling, John F.
• Application Number:
  US06/180,213
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 260/401, 260/400
• US Class Current: 554/46
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/002 Surface-active compounds containing sulfur SO3 and SO4, C11D1/12; sulfonium compounds C11D1/60; sulfoxides C11D1/755; sulfobetaines C11D1/92
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/755 Sulfoxides

Abstract

Alpha-sulfoxide and alpha-sulfone carboxyl compounds useful as detergent surfactants are disclosed. The compounds are particularly effective in removing greasy/oily soils under cold water laundering conditions. Detergent compositions containing the compounds also preferably contain cosurfactants and builder materials.

Claims

1. A compound of the formula:

##STR11## wherein R¹ is a C₁₀ -C₁₈ hydrocarbyl group;

R² is a C₆ -C₁₈ hydrocarbyl group;

R³ is a C₁ -C₄ hydrocarbyl group;

each R⁴ is hydrogen, a C₁ -C₄ hydrocarbyl group, or a C₂ -C₃ alkylene oxide group, or mixtures thereof, containing from about 1 to about 10 alkylene oxide units;

X is an R⁴ group or a water-soluble metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation; and

Y is hydrogen, a water-soluble metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation or a C₂ -C₃ alkylene oxide group, or mixtures thereof, containing from about 1 to about 10 alkylene oxide units.

2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein R¹ is a C₁₀ -C₁₄ alkyl group and R² is a C₈ -C₁₄ alkyl group.

3. A compound according to claim 2 wherein R¹ is a C₁₀ -C₁₂ alkyl group and R² is a C₈ -C₁₂ alkyl group.

4. A compound according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the C₂ -C₃ alkylene oxide group is an ethylene oxide group containing from about 1 to about 5 ethylene oxide units.

5. A compound according to claims 1 or 2 wherein X and Y are each hydrogen or a water-soluble alkali metal cation.

6. A compound according to claim 5 wherein X and Y are sodium.

7. A compound according to claims 1 or 2 wherein each R⁴ is hydrogen or a methyl or ethyl group.

8. A compound according to claims 1 or 2 wherein R³ is a methyl or ethyl group.

9. A compound of the formula:

##STR12## wherein R¹ is a C₁₀ -C₁₈ hydrocarbyl group, R³ is a C₁ -C₄ hydrocarbyl group, and X is hydrogen or a water-soluble alkali metal cation.

10. A compound according to claim 9 wherein R¹ is a C₁₀ -C₁₄ alkyl group.

11. A compound according to claim 10 wherein R¹ is a C₁₀ -C₁₂ alkyl group.

12. A compound according to claims 9 or 10 wherein R³ is a methyl or ethyl group.

13. A compound according to claim 12 wherein X is sodium.

14. A compound of the formula:

##STR13## wherein R² is a C₆ -C₁₈ hydrocarbyl group, R³ is a C₁ -C₄ hydrocarbyl group, and Y is hydrogen, a water-soluble alkali metal cation, or an ethylene oxide group containing from about 1 to about 5 ethylene oxide units.

15. A compound according to claim 14 wherein R² is a C₈ -C₁₄ alkyl group.

16. A compound according to claim 15 wherein R² is a C₈ -C₁₂ alkyl group.

17. A compound according to claims 14 or 15 wherein R³ is a methyl or ethyl group.

18. A compound according to claim 17 wherein Y is sodium.