Use of heterocyclic compounds as activators for inorganic peroxy compounds

A process for activating inorganic peroxy compounds, comprising contacting an inorganic peroxy compound with an activator having the formula (1):

• L--X--L (I)
• wherein each L is a heterocyclic radical identical to the other and each is:
• (a) a cyclic carbamate residue of the formula:
• ##STR49## (b) a lactonoxy residue of the formula:
• ##STR50## or (c) a lactam residue of the formula:
• ##STR51## wherein Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2 and Z.sup.3 are each, independently, a 1,2-, 1,3-, 14-, or 1,5-alkylene group which has 2 to 20 carbon atoms and which is optionally substituted by one to three moieties selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, amino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylamino, di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylamino, chlorine, bromine, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, sulfo, carboxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, carboxamide, phenyl, tolyl and benzyl, wherein aromatic nuclei of said phenyl, tolyl or benzyl radical are optionally substituted by said moieties, and said 1,2-, 1,3-, 1,4-, or 1,5-alkylene group is optionally interrupted by one or two non-adjacent oxygen atoms, amino groups, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylamino groups or carbonyl groups:
• T is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl;
• and
• X is an oxygen-containing group of the formula:
• ##STR52## .