Mid-Chain branched Alkoxylated Sulfate Surfactants

A surfactant composition comprising a mixture of branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfates having the formula ##STR39## wherein the total number of carbon atoms per molecule, including branching, is from 14 to 20, and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formula is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5;

• R, R.sup.1, and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, provided R, R.sup.1, and R.sup.2 are not all hydrogen;
• M is a water soluble cation;
• w is an integer from 0 to 13;
• x is an integer from 0 to 13;
• y is an integer from 0 to 13;
• z is an integer of at least 1;
• w+x+y+z is from 8 to 14;
• EO/PO are alkoxy moieties, selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 0.01, provided that when R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl the ratio of surfactants having z equal to 2 or greater to surfactants having z of 1 is at least about 1:1.

A detergent composition comprising

• (a) from about 0.001% to about 99% of one or more mid-chain branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants having the formula:
• ##STR40## or mixtures thereof;
• wherein M represents one or more cations;
• a, b, d, and e are integers, a+b is from 10 to 16, d+e is from 8 to 14 and wherein further
• when a+b=10, a is an integer from 2 to 9 and b is an integer from 1 to 8;
• when a+b=11, a is an integer from 2 to 10 and b is an integer from 1 to 9;
• when a+b=12, a is an integer from 2 to 11 and b is an integer from 1 to 10;
• when a+b=13, a is an integer from 2 to 12 and b is an integer from 1 to 11;
• when a+b=14, a is an integer from 2 to 13 and b is an integer from 1 to 12;
• when a+b=15, a is an integer from 2 to 14 and b is an integer from 1 to 13;
• when a+b=16, a is an integer from 2 to 15 and b is an integer from 1 to 14;
• when d+e=8, d is an integer from 2 to 7 and e is an integer from 1 to 6;
• when d+e=9, d is an integer from 2 to 8 and e is an integer from 1 to 7;
• when d+e=10, d is an integer from 2 to 9 and e is an integer from 1 to 8;
• when d+e=11, d is an integer from 2 to 10 and e is an integer from 1 to 9;
• when d+e=12, d is an integer from 2to 11 and e is an integer from 1 to 10;
• when d+e=13, d is an integer from 2 to 12 and e is an integer from 1 to 11;
• when d+e=14, d is an integer from 2 to 13 and e is an integer from 1 to 12;
• wherein for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formulas is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5;
• and
• wherein EO/PO are alkoxy moieties, preferably selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 0.01;
• and
• (b) from about 1% to about 99.999% by weight of one or more detergent adjunct ingredients.

A mid-chain branched primary alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants having the formula ##STR42## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl;

• M is a water soluble cation;
• x is from 0 to 12;
• y is from 0 to 12;
• z is at least 2;
• x+y+z is from 11 to 14;
• and EO/PO are alkoxy moieties selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 0.01, provided R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are not both hydrogen.

A mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxylated sulfate compound of the formula:

• ##STR45## wherein:
• d and e are integers and d+e is 10 or 11;
• and wherein further
• when d+e=10, d is an integer from 2 to 9 and e is an integer from 1 to 8;
• when d+e=11, d is an integer from 2 to 10 and e is an integer from 1 to 9;
• and M is selected from sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted ammonium;
• and
• EO/PO are alkoxy moieties, selected from ethoxy, propoxy, and mixed ethoxy/propoxy groups, wherein m is at least about 0.01.