# US 4,400,173 A · Bleach composition containing weakly to non-colored porphine photo-activator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,400,173 A - Document ID: US4400173A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/331,508 - Filed: 1981-12-16 - Granted: 1983-08-23 - Earliest claimed: 1980-12-22 - Assignees: Lever Brothers Company - Inventors: Stuart W. Beavan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400173A ## CPC - C11D 3/0063: {Photo- activating compounds} - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL ## Abstract Bleach compositions comprising a weakly coloring to non-coloring porphine photo-activator and process for bleaching substrates or liquids using said porphine photo-activator are disclosed. The porphine photo-activator used and as defined herein is selected such that the lowest energy allowed electronic transition of the photo-activator molecule gives rise to an absorption band (Q band) with maximum intensity at a wavelength greater than 700 nm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bleach composition comprising a weakly colouring to non-colouring porphine photo-activator having the general formula: ##STR8## wherein X is (.dbd.N--); wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is individually an optionally substituted ortho-arylene system forming together with a pyrrole ring in the porphine core a condensed nucleus; wherein M is 2(H) atoms bound diagonally opposite nitrogen atoms, or Zn (II), Ca (II), Mg (II), Al (III) or Sn (IV); wherein Z is any necessary counter ion for the solubilizing groups; wherein n is the number of solubilizing groups; wherein substituted into any R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be A, a solubilizing group selected from the group consisting of (a) cationic groups, where Z is an anion and n is from 0 to about 10; (b) polyethoxylate nonionic groups --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.g H, where Z is zero, n is from 0 to about 10, and G=ng=the number of condensed ethylene oxide molecules per porphine molecule is from 0 to about 70 and (c) anionic groups where Z is a cation and n is from 0 to about 10; such that the lowest energy allowed electronic transition of the photo-activator molecule gives rise to an absorption band (Q band) with a maximum intensity; at a wavelength greater than 700 nm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A bleach composition according to claim 1 wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is individually an optionally substituted ortho-naphthalene system forming a condensed nucleus together with a pyrrole ring in the porphine core. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A bleach composition according to claim 1, wherein the absorption band with maximum intensity is at a wavelength in the range of 700-900 nm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A bleach activator according to claim 1, wherein the porphine photo-activator is present in an amount of 0.001% to 2.0% by weight of the composition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A bleach composition according to claim 4, wherein the porphine photo-activator is present in an amount of 0.005% to about 0.1% by weight of the composition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A bleach composition according to claim 4, comprising a surfactant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A bleach composition according to claim 6, characterised in that the surfactant comprises a cationic and/or a nonionic surfactant. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) A bleach composition according to claim 4, comprising: (i) 10-50% by weight of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, cationic, semi-polar, ampholytic, zwitterionic detergents and mixtures thereof; (ii) 0-80% by weight of alkaline detergent builder; and (iii) 0.001%-2.0% by weight of said weakly colouring to non-colouring porphine photo-activator. ### Claim 9 A process for bleaching substrates or liquids comprising contacting said substrates or liquids with a weakly colouring to non-colouring porphine photoactivator of the general formula: ##STR9## wherein X is (.dbd.N--); wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is individually an optionally substituted orthoarylene system forming together with a pyrrole ring in the porphine core a condensed nucleus; wherein M is 2(H) atoms bound diagonally opposite nitrogen atoms, or Zn (II), Ca (II), Mg (II), Al (III) or Sn (IV); wherein Z is any necessary counter ion for the solubilizing groups; wherein n is the number of solubilizing groups; wherein substituted into any R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be A, a solubilizing group selected from the group consisting of (a) cationic groups, where Z is an anion and n is from 0 to about 10; (b) polyethoxylate nonionic groups --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O)gH, where Z is zero, n is from 0 to about 10, and G=ng=the number of condensed ethylene oxide molecules per porphine molecule is from 0 to about 70 and (c) anionic groups where Z is a cation and n is from 0 to about 10; such that the lowest energy allowed electronic transition of the photo-activator molecule gives rise to an absorption band (Q band) with a maximum intensity, at a wavelength greater than 700 nm, is used, said bleaching being carried out in the presence of sunlight, natural or artificial light having radiation wavelength greater than 600 nm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A process according to claim 9, wherein each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is individually an optionally substituted ortho-naphthalene system forming a condensed nucleus together with a pyrrole ring in the porphine core. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A process according to claim 9, wherein the absorption band with maximum intensity is at a wavelength in the range of 700 to 900 nm.