Process for the preparation of manganese bleach catalyst

Abstract

A process is described for the preparation of a manganese complex catalyst having the formula: ##STR1## 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; the process includes the steps of: (i) reacting in an nonaqueous alcoholic medium a manganese (II) salt with the ligand L to form a manganese coordinated substance, a counterion salt M.sub.z Y.sub.q being present wherein M is selected from the group consisting of metallic, ammonium and alkanolammonium ions, z is an integer ranging from 1 to 4 and q is an integer from 1 to 4; and (ii) oxidizing the manganese coordinated substance with an oxidizing agent while simultaneously basifying the medium to thereby form the manganese complex catalyst.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.