Alkylene oxide derivatives, wetting agent, solubilizing agent, and solubilizing composition

A method for solubilizing an oily component in water, comprising:

• mixing an alkylene oxide derivative with the oily component in water,
• wherein the alkylene oxide derivative is represented by following formula (I):
• R—O-(AO)a—[(PO)b/(EO)c]—H (I)
• R represents a linear or branched alkyl group having from 4 to 36 carbons;
• AO is an oxyalkylene group having three or four carbons, PO is an oxypropylene group, and EO is an oxyethylene group;
• a, b, and c are the average addition molar numbers of the oxyalkylene group, the oxypropylene group, and the oxyethylene group per molecule, respectively, and 1≤a≤40, 1≤b≤40, 5≤c≤80, and (a+b+c)≥35;
• [(PO)b/(EO)c] represents a polyoxyalkylene group in which b moles of PO and c moles of EO are bonded randomly, and the random rate x is 0.1≤x<1.

A method for solubilizing a fragrance in water, comprising:

• mixing an alkylene oxide derivative with the fragrance in water,
• wherein the alkylene oxide derivative is represented by following formula (I):
• R—O-(AO)a—[(PO)b/(EO)c]—H (I)
• R represents a linear or branched alkyl group having from 4 to 36 carbons;
• AO is an oxyalkylene group having three or four carbons, PO is an oxypropylene group, and EO is an oxyethylene group;
• a, b, and c are the average addition molar numbers of the oxyalkylene group, the oxypropylene group, and the oxyethylene group per molecule, respectively, and 1≤a≤40, 1≤b≤40, 5≤c≤80, and (a+b+c)≥35;
• [(PO)b/(EO)c] represents a polyoxyalkylene group in which b moles of PO and c moles of EO are bonded randomly, and the random rate x is 0.1≤x<1.

A method for solubilizing an unsaturated compound in water, comprising:

• mixing an alkylene oxide derivative with the unsaturated compound in water,
• wherein the alkylene oxide derivative is represented by following formula (I):
• R—O-(AO)a—[(PO)b/(EO)c]—H (I)
• R represents a linear or branched alkyl group having from 4 to 36 carbons;
• AO is an oxyalkylene group having three or four carbons, PO is an oxypropylene group, and EO is an oxyethylene group;
• a, b, and c are the average addition molar numbers of the oxyalkylene group, the oxypropylene group, and the oxyethylene group per molecule, respectively, and 1≤a≤40, 1≤b≤40, 5≤c≤80, and (a+b+c)≥35;
• [(PO)b/(EO)c] represents a polyoxyalkylene group in which b moles of PO and c moles of EO are bonded randomly, and the random rate x is 0.1≤x<1.

A method for solubilizing a saturated compound having an octanol/water partition coefficient of 7 to 20 and a molar mass of 250 g/mol or more in water, comprising:

• mixing an alkylene oxide derivative with the saturated compound in water,
• wherein the alkylene oxide derivative is represented by following formula (I):
• R—O-(AO)a—[(PO)b/(EO)c]—H (I)
• R represents a linear or branched alkyl group having from 4 to 36 carbons;
• AO is an oxyalkylene group having three or four carbons, PO is an oxypropylene group, and EO is an oxyethylene group;
• a, b, and c are the average addition molar numbers of the oxyalkylene group, the oxypropylene group, and the oxyethylene group per molecule, respectively, and 1≤a≤40, 1≤b≤40, 5≤c κ 80, and (a+b+c)≥35;
• [(PO)b/(EO)c] represents a polyoxyalkylene group in which b moles of PO and c moles of EO are bonded randomly, and the random rate x is 0.1≤x<1.

A solubilizing composition comprising 0.01 to 5 mass % of component (A), 0.1 to 10 mass % of component (B), 0.1 to 20 mass % of component (C), and 0.01 to 5 mass % of component (D), with the ratio of the mass of component (B) to the mass of component (A) (the mass of component (B)/the mass of component (A)) being 0.5 to 10, wherein

• the component (A) is a saturated compound having an octanol/water partition coefficient of 7 to 20 and a molar mass of 250 g/mol or more,
• the component (B) is an alkylene oxide derivative represented by following formula (I):
• R—O-(AO)a—[(PO)b/(EO)c]—H (I)
• R represents a linear or branched alkyl group having from 4 to 36 carbons;
• AO is an oxyalkylene group having three or four carbons, PO is an oxypropylene group, and EO is an oxyethylene group;
• a, b, and c are the average addition molar numbers of the oxyalkylene group, the oxypropylene group, and the oxyethylene group per molecule, respectively, and 1≤a≤40, 1≤b≤40, 1≤c≤80, and (a+b+c)≥20;
• [(PO)b/(EO)c] represents a polyoxyalkylene group in which b moles of PO and c moles of EO are bonded randomly, and the random rate x is 0.1≤x<1,
• the component (C) is an alkylene oxide derivative represented by the following formula (II) where a 5 mass % aqueous solution of the component (C) has a cloud point of 15° C. or higher
• Z—{O—[(PO)p/(EO)q]—(BO)r—H}s (II)
• wherein Z is a residue obtained by removing all hydroxyl groups from a polyhydric alcohol having from two to seven carbons and containing s hydroxyl groups, and 2≤s≤4;
• PO is an oxypropylene group, EO is an oxyethylene group, BO is an oxyalkylene group having four carbons, p, q, and r are the average addition molar numbers of the oxypropylene group, the oxyethylene group, and the oxyalkylene group per molecule, respectively, 1≤p≤30, 1≤q≤30, 1≤r≤2, and PO and EO are bonded randomly, and
• the component (D) is an alkyl glyceryl ether comprising glycerol and a monohydric alcohol including a branched alkyl having from seven to nine carbons.