Poly(oxyalkylene) substituted aminophenol intermediate and xanthene colorant

A xanthene colorant comprising a compound having the structure:

• ##STR16## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from H, C1-C20 alkyl and aryl, or are both Y, where Y is a poly(oxyalkylene) substituent having a straight or branched polymer chain of from 3 to 250 monomer units selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and glycidol;
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are both Y;
• R.sub.5, R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are independently selected from H, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, Cl, Br and I;
• each R.sub.8 is independently selected from C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, Cl, Br and I, and m is 0, 1, 2 or 3;
• X is selected from H, SO.sub.3 --, CO.sub.2 --, COOR.sub.9, Cl, Br and OH, and R.sub.9 is C1-C8 alkyl or aryl;
• and
• each Z is independently selected from SO.sub.3 --, CO.sub.2 --, COOR.sub.10, Cl, Br and OH, and R.sub.10 is C1-C8 alkyl or aryl, and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3.

A xanthene colorant comprising a compound having the structure:

• ##STR17## wherein Y is a poly(oxyalkylene) substituent having a straight or branched polymer chain of from 3 to 250 monomer units selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and glycidol;
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from H, C1-C8 alkyl, aryl and Y, provided that if either R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 are Y, the other is not H;
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from H, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, Cl, Br and I;
• X is selected from H, SO.sub.3 --, CO.sub.2 -- and COOR.sub.5, where R.sub.5 is C1-C4 alkyl or aryl;
• and
• each Z is independently selected from SO.sub.3 --, CO.sub.2 --, COOR.sub.6 , and OH, where R.sub.6 is C1-C4 alkyl or aryl, and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3.