Renewably sourced soil release polyesters

A process for the preparation of a polyester comprising two or more structural units (a1), one or more structural units (a2) and either one or two terminal structural groups (a3)

• wherein
• each G1 is independently (OCnH2n) with n being a number of from 2 to 10,
• R1 is a C1-30 alkyl,
• p is, based on a molar average, a number of from 1 to 200,
• q is, based on a molar average, a number of from 0 to 40,
• where
• the (OC3H6)— and (OC2H4)-groups of the terminal group (a3) may be arranged blockwise, alternating, periodically and/or statistically,
• either of the groups (OC3H6)— and (OC2H4)— can be linked to R1— and —O,
• adjacent structural units (a1) are connected by the structural unit (a2), in the case that only one terminal group (a3) is present in the polymer, the other terminal group is selected from the group consisting of OH, OCH3, and G1OH and
• both terminal groups may be only linked to a structural unit (a1) characterized in that it comprises the steps of heating furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, one or more alkylene glycols, and R1—(OC2H4)q—(OC3H6)q—OH, with the addition of a catalyst, to temperatures of from 160 to 220° C., firstly at atmospheric pressure, and then continuing the reaction under reduced pressure at temperatures of from 160 to 240° C.

A process for washing a fabric comprising the step of contacting the fabric with a polyester comprising two or more structural units (a1), one or more structural units (a2) and either one or two terminal structural groups (a3)

• wherein
• each G1 is independently (OCnH2n) with n being a number of from 2 to 10,
• R1 is a C1-30 alkyl,
• p is, based on a molar average, a number of from 1 to 200,
• q is, based on a molar average, a number of from 0 to 40,
• where
• the (OC3H6)— and (OC2H4)-groups of the terminal group (a3) may be arranged blockwise, alternating, periodically and/or statistically,
• either of the groups (OC3H6)— and (OC2H4)— can be linked to R1— and —O,
• adjacent structural units (a1) are connected by the structural unit (a2), in the case that only one terminal group (a3) is present in the polymer, the other terminal group is selected from the group consisting of OH, OCH3, and G1OH and
• both terminal groups may be only linked to a structural unit (a1).

A polyester consisting of two or more structural units (a1), one or more structural units (a2) and either one or two terminal structural groups (a3)

• wherein
• each G1 is independently (OCnH2n) with n being a number of from 2 to 10,
• R1 is a C1-30 alkyl,
• p is, based on a molar average, a number of from 1 to 200,
• q is, based on a molar average, a number of from 0 to 40,
• where
• the (OC3H6)— and (OC2H4)-groups of the terminal group (a3) may be arranged blockwise, alternating, periodically and/or statistically,
• either of the groups (OC3H6)— and (OC2H4)— can be linked to R1— and —O,
• adjacent structural units (a1) are connected by the structural unit (a2), in the case that only one terminal group (a3) is present in the polymer, the other terminal group is selected from the group consisting of OH, OCH3, and G1OH and
• both terminal groups may be only linked to a structural unit (a1).

A polyester consisting of two or more structural units (a1), a plurality of structural units (a2), either one or two terminal structural groups (a3), and one or more structural units (a4),

• wherein
• each G1 is independently (OCnH2n) with n being a number of from 2 to 10,
• R1 is a C1-30 alkyl,
• p is, based on a molar average, a number of from 1 to 200,
• q is, based on a molar average, a number of from 0 to 40,
• where
• the (OC3H6)— and (OC2H4)-groups of the terminal group (a3) may be arranged blockwise, alternating, periodically and/or statistically,
• either of the groups (OC3H6)— and (OC2H4)— can be linked to R1— and —O,
• adjacent structural units (a1) are connected by the structural unit (a2), in the case that only one terminal group (a3) is present in the polymer, the other terminal group is selected from the group consisting of OH, OCH3, and G1OH,
• both terminal groups may be only linked to a structural unit (a1) or (a4) and wherein structural units (a4) may be indirectly linked to structural units (a1) or other structural units (a4) via the structural units (a2), or directly linked to a terminal group.