# US 4,395,363 A · Alpha-sulfoxide and alpha-sulfone carboxyl compounds

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- Number: US 4,395,363 A
- Document ID: US4395363A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/326,316
- Filed: 1981-12-01
- Granted: 1983-07-26
- Earliest claimed: 1980-08-21
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Robert J. Crawford
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395363A

## CPC

- C11D 1/002: {Surface-active compounds containing sulfur (SO3 and SO4, C11D1/12; sulfonium compounds C11D1/60; sulfoxides C11D1/755; sulfobetaines C11D1/92)}
- C11D 1/755: Sulfoxides
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL

## 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 are preferably contain cosurfactants and builder materials.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A detergent composition comprising:
(a) from about 0.005% to about 99% by weight of an alpha-substituted compound having the formula: ##STR9## wherein R.sup.2 is a C.sub.6 -C.sub.18 hydrocarbyl group; R.sup.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydrocarbyl group; each R.sup.4 is hydrogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydrocarbyl group, or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylene oxide group, or mixtures thereof, containing from about 1 to about 10 alkylene oxide units; and
(b) from about 1% to about 50% by weight of an organic surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A composition according to claims 1 comprising from about 3% to about 20% by weight of the cosurfactant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the cosurfactant is an anionic or zwitterionic surfactant, or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A composition according to claim 3 wherein the cosurfactant is an anionic surfactant and the weight ratio of the compound to the anionic surfactant is from about 1:3 to about 3:1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A composition according to claim 4 wherein the weight ratio of the compound to the anionic surfactant is from about 1:1 to about 2:1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

A composition according to claim 3 wherein the cosurfactant is a zwitterionic surfactant and the weight ratio of the compound to the zwitterionic surfactant is from about 1:1 to about 4:1.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A composition according to claim 6 wherein the weight ratio of the compound to the zwitterionic surfactant is from about 2:1 to about 3:1.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A composition according to claim 5 comprising from about 5% to about 25% by weight of the alpha-substituted compound.

### Claim 9

A detergent composition comprising:
(a) from about 0.005% to about 99% by weight of an alpha-substituted compound having the formula: ##STR10## wherein R.sup.2 is a C.sub.6 -C.sub.18 hydrocarbyl group; R.sup.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydrocarbyl group; each R.sup.4 is hydrogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydrocarbyl group, or a C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 alkylene oxide group, or mixtures thereof, containing from about 1 to about 10 alkylene oxide units; and
(b) from about 1% to about 95% of a detergent builder material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A composition according to claim 9 further comprising from about 1% to about 50% by weight of an organic cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, ampholytic, and zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A composition according to claim 9 comprising from about 5% to about 75% by weight of the detergent builder material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A composition according to claim 11 wherein the detergent builder material is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal phosphates, polyphosphates, carbonates, polyhydroxysulfonates, silicates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates, and aluminosilicates, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 9)

A composition according to claim 1 or 9 comprising from about 3% to about 50% by weight of the alpha-substituted compound.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A composition according to claim 13, comprising from about 5% to about 25% by weight of the alpha-substituted compound.