Manganese catalyst for activating hydrogen peroxide bleaching

A bleaching composition comprising:

• i) from about 1 to about 60% by weight of a peroxy compound;
• and
• (ii) a manganese complex present in an effective amount for catalyzing bleaching activity of the peroxy compound and having the structure:
• [LMn.sup.IV (OR).sub.3 ]Y,
• wherein
• Mn is manganese in the +4 oxidation state;
• R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, benzyl and radical combinations thereof;
• at least two R radicals may also be connected to one another so as to form a bridging unit between two oxygens that coordinate with the manganese;
• L is a ligand selected from a C.sub.3 -C.sub.60 radical having at least 3 nitrogen atoms coordinating with the manganese;
• and
• Y is an oxidatively-stable counterion.

A method is provided for bleaching a stained substrate, the method comprising contacting the stained substrate in an aqueous medium with a peroxy compound and a manganese complex each in an effective amount to interact with one another and provide a cleaning effect upon the substrate, the complex having the formula:

• [LMn.sup.IV (OR).sub.3 ]Y,
• wherein
• Mn is manganese in the +4 oxidation state;
• R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, benzyl and radical combinations thereof;
• at least two R radicals may also be connected to one another so as to form a bridging unit between two oxygens that coordinate with the manganese;
• L is a ligand selected from a C.sub.3 -C.sub.60 radical having at least 3 nitrogen atoms coordinating with the manganese;
• and
• Y is an oxidatively-stable counterion.