Color-safe bleach boosters, compositions and laundry methods employing same

A method for laundering a fabric, said method comprising:

• a step of contacting a fabric to be laundered with a laundry solution, said laundry solution comprising from about 0.01% to about 60% by weight of a peroxygen source and from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of a bleach booster selected from the group consisting of zwitterionic imines, anionic imine polyions having a net negative charge of from about -1 to about -3, and mixtures thereof, said bleach booster has the formula:
• ##STR36## wherein R.sup.1 -R.sup.3 are moieties having a total charge of from about 0 to about -1;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 form part of a common ring;
• T is selected from the group consisting of:
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.b -- wherein b is from about 1 to about 8, --(CH(R.sup.5))-- wherein R.sup.5 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, --CH.sub.2 (C.sub.6 H.sub.4)--, ##STR37## and --(CH.sub.2).sub.d (E)(CH.sub.2).sub.f -- wherein d is from 2 to 8, f is from 1 to 3 and E is --C(O)O--, --C(O)NR.sup.6 -- or:
• ##STR38## wherein R.sup.6 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;
• Z is covalently bonded to T;
• and Z is selected from the group consisting of --CO.sub.2.sup.-, --SO.sub.3.sup.- and --OSO.sub.3.sup.- ;
• and a is either 1 or 2.

A laundry additive product comprising:

• a laundry additive being in dosage form for addition to a laundry solution, said additive comprising a bleach booster selected from the group consisting of zwitterionic imines, anionic imine polyions having a net negative charge of from about -1 to about -3 and mixtures thereof, said bleach booster has the formula:
• ##STR40## wherein R.sup.1 -R.sup.3 are moieties having a total charge of from about 0 to about -1;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 form part of a common ring;
• T is selected from the group consisting of:
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.b -- wherein b is from about 1 to about 8, --(CH(R.sup.5))-- wherein R.sup.5 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, --CH.sub.2 (C.sub.6 H.sub.4)--, ##STR41## and --(CH.sub.2).sub.d (E)(CH.sub.2).sub.f -- wherein d is from 2 to 8, f is from 1 to 3 and m is --C(O)O--, --C(O)NR.sup.6 -- or:
• ##STR42## wherein R.sup.6 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;
• Z is covalently bonded to T;
• and Z is selected from the group consisting of --CO.sub.2.sup.-, --SO.sub.3.sup.- and --OSO.sub.3.sup.- ;
• and a is either 1 or 2.

A laundry additive product comprising:

• a laundry additive, said additive comprising from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of a bleach booster selected from the group consisting of zwitterionic imines, anionic imine polyions having a net negative charge of from about -1 to about -3 and mixtures thereof, and from about 5% to about 90% by weight of a filler or carrier for said booster, said filler or carrier being selected from the following:
• sulfates, carbonates, silicates, talc, clay, water, monohydric alcohols, polyols or diols, and
• wherein said bleach booster has the formula:
• ##STR44## wherein R.sup.1 -R.sup.3 are moieties having a total charge of from about 0 to about -1;
• R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 form part of a common ring;
• T is selected from the group consisting of:
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.b -- wherein b is from about 1 to about 8, --(CH(R.sup.5))-- wherein R.sup.5 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, --CH.sub.2 (C.sub.6 H.sub.4)--, ##STR45## and --(CH.sub.2).sub.d (E)(CH.sub.2).sub.f -- wherein d is from 2 to 8, f is from 1 to 3 and E is --C(O)O--, --C(O)NR.sup.6 -- or:
• ##STR46## wherein R.sup.6 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl;
• Z is covalently bonded to T;
• and Z is selected from the group consisting of --CO.sub.2.sup.-, --SO.sub.3.sup.- and and a is either 1 or 2.