|
(11) | EP 1 038 946 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | N-acylimines as bleach catalysts |
| (57) Novel bleaches, a method for bleaching substrates using these materials and detergent
compositions containing same are reported. The bleaches are N-acylimines. Substrates
such as fabrics may be bleached in an aqueous solution containing the N-acylimines
and a peroxygen compound. |
Field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to bleach catalysts, compositions containing same and a method for using the catalysts for cleaning substrates, especially fabrics.
Background of the invention an the Related Art
[0002] Many household and personal care products are formulated with an active oxygen-releasing material to effect removal of stain and soil. Oxygen-releasing materials have an important limitation; their activity is extremely temperature dependent. Temperatures in excess of 60°C are normally required to achieve any bleach effectiveness in an aqueous wash system. Especially for cleaning fabrics, high temperature operation is both economically and practically disadvantageous.
[0003] The art has partially solved the aforementioned problem through the use of activators. These activators, also known as bleach precursors, often appear in the form of carboxylic acid esters. In an aqueous liquor, anions of hydrogen peroxide react with the ester to generate the corresponding peroxyacid which oxidizes the stained substrate. Commercial application of this technology is found in certain fabric bleaching detergent powders incorporating sodium nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate. This activator is typical of a class that features a phenol sulfonate leaving group; see US-A-4,412,934.
[0004] While carboxylic acid ester activators and the like are often effective, they are not catalytic. Once the ester has been perhydrolyzed it can no longer be recycled.
[0005] Therefore, relatively large amounts of activator are necessary. Amounts as high as 8% may be necessary in a detergent formulation for bleaching fabrics. Cost for these relatively expensive activators is of major concern at such levels.
[0006] DE-A-4 223 065 discloses heterocyclic imine compounds as bleach activators in washing, disinfecting and cleaning compositions comprising 10 to 30 weight percent of a bleaching catalyst.
[0007] A significant advance in catalysis was reported utilizing sulfonimines in US-A-5,041,232, US-A-5,047,163 and US-A-5,045,223. Only a few of the reported compounds have been studied in any detail. More investigation needs to be conducted to identify catalysts of even greater activity.
[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide novel bleach catalysts that can operate over a wide temperature range including that of under 60°C.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide bleach catalysts which are effective at relatively low concentrations thereby achieving a cost effective stain removal system.
[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for bleaching stained substrates such as clothes, household hard surfaces including sinks, toilets and the like, and even dentures.
[0011] Other objects of the present invention will become apparent through the following summary, detailed discussion and examples.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] A bleaching composition is provided including:
(i) between 1 and 10% by weight of a peroxygen compound;
(ii) from 0.01 to 10% of an oxygen transfer agent whose structure is:
R1R2C=NCOR3
wherein:R1 may be hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, acyl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals;
R2 may be hydrogen, nitro, halo or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, R1C=NCOR3, cyano, alkoxy, keto, carboxylic and carboalkoxy radicals;
R3 may be nitro, halo or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, and cyano radicals;
R1 with R2 and R2 with R3 may respectively together independently form a cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, and aromatic ring system; and
(iii) from about 0.5 to 50% of a surfactant.
[0013] Additionally, there is provided a method for bleaching a stained substrate comprising the step of applying to the stained substrate an aqueous solution comprising a peroxygen compound and an oxygen transfer agent whose structure is R1R2C=NCOR3, with radical groups as defined above, the mole ratio of peroxygen compound to oxygen transfer agent being from about 250:1 to about 1:2.
[0014] Certain compounds are also provided whose structure is R1R2C=NCOR3 having radical groups as defined above, with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2, R3 is substituted with a water-solubilizing functional group. Typical water-solubilizing groups include carboxylic acid, phosphoric acid, phosphonic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfonic acid, and, especially, their salt derivatives and quaternary ammonium salts.
Detailed description of the invention
[0015] It has been found that N-acylimines operate even more effectively than sulfonimines as catalysts for activating peroxygen compounds to transfer active oxygen to stains. Consumer and industrial articles can effectively be bleached to remove stains present on such articles. N-acylimines covered by the present invention are those whose structure is:
R1R2C=NCOR3
wherein:R1 may be hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, acyl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals;
R2 may be hydrogen nitro, halo, or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, R1C=NCOR3, cyano, alkoxy, keto, carboxylic and carboalkoxy radicals;
R3 may be a nitro, halo, or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, and cyano radicals; and
R1 with R2 and R2 with R3 may respectively together independently form a cycloalkyl, heterocyclic or aromatic ring system.
[0016] Often advantageous are N-acylimines having at least one of R1, R2, R3 substituted with a water-solubilizing functional group. These functional groups may be selected from carboxylates, phosphates, phosphonates, sulfates, sulfonates in acid and salt form and quaternary ammonium salts. Suitable salts include those whose counterions are selected from alkali metal, ammonium, and C2-C6 alkanolammonium cations.
[0017] Amine functional groups may also be incorporated into R1, R2 or R3 to provide water-solubilization of the N-acylimines. An example combining the amine and heterocyclic structure is that of pyridine.
[0018] A water-solubilizing functional group is one which renders the N-acylimines soluble to the extent of at least 2 mg/l, preferably at least 25 mg/l, optimally at least 250 mg/l by weight in water at 25°C.
[0019] Heterocyclic rings according to this invention include cycloaliphatic and cycloaromatic type radicals incorporating an oxygen, sulfur and/or nitrogen atom within the ring system. Representative nitrogen heterocycles include pyridine, morpholine, pyrrole, imidazole, triazole, tetrazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine and piperazine. Suitable oxygen heterocycles include furan, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane. Sulfur heterocycles may include thiophene and tetrahydrothiophene. Among the various heterocycles, it has been found that those incorporating nitrogen are the most active.
[0020] The term "substituted" is defined in relation to R1, R2, R3 as a substituent which is a nitro, halo, cyano, C1-C20 alkyl, acyl, amino, aminoalkyl, thioalkyl, sulfoxyalkyl, carboxyester, hydroxy, C1-C20 alkoxy, polyalkoxy and C1-C40 quaternary di- or trialkylammonium function.
[0021] Novel N-acylimine compounds are described below wherein R1 is hydrogen, R2 is phenyl with a Z substitutent, and R3 is phenyl with a Y substituent. Very often Z and Y groups are water-solubilizing groups, most commonly being carboxylic acid or salts thereof. Representative structures are as follows:
[0022] Illustrative of cycloaromatic and of heterocyclic N-acylimines are the Imine 11, Imine 12, Imine 13 and Imine 14 compounds whose structures are outlined below.
[0023] The following further compounds are illustrative of N-acylimines of the present invention.
| R1 | R2 | 2H-imidazol-2-ones: |
| CH3 | CH3 | 2H-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-one |
| Ph | CH3 | 2H-4-methyl-5-phenylimidazol-2-one |
| Ph | Ph | 2H-4,5-diphenylimidazol-2-one |
| R1 | R2 | R3 | 2(5H)-oxazalones: |
| CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | 4,5,5-trimethyl-2(5H)-oxazalone |
| CH3 | CH3 | Ph | 5,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-2(5H)-oxazalone |
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | 5H-2-pyrimidones: |
| CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | 5H-4,5,5,6-tetramethyl-2-pyrimidone |
| Ph | CH3 | CH3 | Ph | 5H-5,5-dimethyl-4,6-diphenyl-2-pyrimidone |
| R1 | R2 | R3 | 2H-1,3-oxazin-2-ones: |
| CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | 4,5,6-tertamethyl-2H-1,3-oxazin-2-one |
| CH3 | CH3 | Ph | 5,6-dimethyl-4-phenyl-2H-1,3-oxazin-2-one |
| Ph | CH3 | CH3 | 4,5-dimethyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,3-oxazin-2-one |
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | 5,6-dihydro-2H-1,3-oxazin-2-ones: |
| CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | 5,6-dihydro-4,5,5,6,6-pentamethyl-2H-1,3-oxazin-2-one |
| CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | CH3 | Ph | 5,6-dihydro-5,5,6,6-tetramethyl-4-phenyl-2H-1,3-oxazin-2-one |
[0024] Multi-heterocyclic ring compounds illustrative of N-acylimines include:
wherein the R groups are independently selected from those defined by R2 described above.
[0025] The foregoing oxygen transfer agents may be incorporated into detergent bleach compositions along with a further essential component which is a peroxygen compound capable of yielding peroxide anion or peroxyacid in an aqueous solution.
[0026] Amounts of oxygen transfer agent suitable for the present invention may range from 0.01 to 10%, preferably from 0.1 to 5%, optimally between 0.5 and 1.5% by weight of the composition.
[0028] The molar ratio of peroxygen compound to oxygen transfer agent will range from about 250:1 to 1:2, preferably 100:1 to 1:1, optimally between about 25:1 to 2:1.
[0029] Peroxyacid and peroxide anion sources are well known in the art. They include the alkali metal peroxides, organic peroxides such as urea peroxide, and inorganic persalts, such as the alkali metal perborates, percarbonates, perphosphates, persilicates and persulfates (e.g. Oxone®). Mixtures of two or more such compounds may also be suitable. Particularly preferred are sodium percarbonate, Oxone® and sodium perborate monohydrate.
[0030] Alkylhydroperoxides are another suitable class of peroxygen compounds. Examples of these materials include cumene hydroperoxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide.
[0031] Organic peroxy acids may also be suitable as the peroxygen compound. Such materials have a general formula:
wherein X is oxygen or nitrogen, n=0 or 1, R is an alkylene or substituted alkylene group containing from 1 to about 22 carbon atoms or a phenylene or substituted phenylene group, and Y' is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, aryl or
[0032] When the organic peroxy acid is aromatic, the unsubstituted acid has the general formula:
wherein Y' is hydrogen, alkyl, alkylhalogen, halogen, COOH, NHCOOOH or COOOH; R is phenylene or arylene; and X is oxygen or nitrogen.
[0033] Typical monoperoxy acids useful herein include alkyl peroxy acids and aryl peroxy acids such as:
(i) peroxybenzoic acid and ring-substituted peroxybenzoic acids, e.g. peroxy-α-naphthoic acid;
(ii) aliphatic, substituted aliphatic and arylalkyl monoperoxy acids, e.g. peroxylauric
acid, peroxystearic acid, and N,N- phthaloylaminoperoxycaproic acid (PAP).
Typical diperoxy acids useful herein include alkyl diperoxy acids and aryldiperoxy
acids, such as:
(iii) 1,12-diperoxydodecanedioic acid;
(iv) 1,9-diperoxyazelaic acid;
(v) diperoxybrassylic acid; diperoxysebacic acid and diperoxyisophthalic acid;
(vi) 2-decyldiperoxybutane-1,4-dioic acid;
(vii) 4,4'-sulfonylbisperoxybenzoic acid;
(viii)N,N'-terephthaloyl-di(6-aminoperoxycaproic acid).
[0034] Particularly preferred organic acids are N,N-phthaloylaminoperoxycaproic acid, peracetic acid, monoperoxyphthalic acid (magnesium salt hexahydrate), and diperoxydodecanedioic acid. Under certain circumstances, hydrogen peroxide itself may directly be employed as the peroxygen compound.
[0035] Optionally, compositions of the present invention may further include a pre-bleach precursor that reacts with peroxide anion or peroxyacid and forms therewith a peracid, percarbonic acid or perimidic acid.
[0036] The preferred precursors are N,N,N',N'-tetraacetylethylene diamine (TAED), tetraacetyl-glycoluril (TAGU), glucose pentaacetate, xylose tetraacetate, sodium acetyloxybenzene sulfonate (SABS) and sodium nonanoyloxybenzene sulfonate (SNOBS). Levels of precursor may range from 0.1 to 40%, preferably from 1 to 10%, optimally from 2 to 8% by weight.
[0037] Bleach systems of the present invention may be employed for a wide variety of purposes, but are especially useful in the cleaning of laundry. When intended for such purpose, the peroxygen compound and oxygen transfer agent of the present invention will usually also be combined with surface-active materials, detergency builders and other known ingredients of laundry detergent formulations.
[0038] The surface-active material may be naturally derived, or synthetic material selected from anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, zwitterionic, cationic actives and mixtures thereof. Many suitable actives are commercially available and are fully described in the literature, for example in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch. The total level of the surface-active material may range up to 50% by weight, preferably being from 0.5 to 40% by weight of the composition, most preferably 4 to 25%.
[0039] Synthetic anionic surface-actives are usually water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates and sulphonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms.
[0040] Examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds are sodium and ammonium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulphating higher (C8-C18) alcohols produced for example from tallow or coconut oil; sodium and ammonium alkyl (C9-C20) benzene sulphonates, sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum; sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulphates and sulphonates; sodium and ammonium salts of sulphuric acid esters of higher (C9-C18) fatty alcohol-alkylene oxide, particularly ethylene oxide, reaction products; the reaction products of fatty acids such as coconut fatty acids esterified with isethionic acid and neutralized with sodium hydroxide; sodium and ammonium salts of fatty acid amides of methyl taurine; alkane monosulphonates such as those derived by reacting alpha-olefins (C8-C20) with sodium bisulphite and those derived by reacting paraffins with SO2 and Cl2 and then hydrolyzing with a base to produce a random sulphonate; sodium and ammonium C7-C12 dialkyl sulfosuccinates; and olefin sulphonates, which term is used to describe the material made by reacting olefins, particularly C10-C20 alpha-olefins, with SO3 and then neutralizing and hydrolyzing the reaction product. The preferred anionic detergent compounds are sodium (C11-C15) alkylbenzene sulphonates, sodium (C16-C18) alkyl sulphates and sodium (C16-C18) alkyl ether sulphates.
[0041] Examples of suitable nonionic surface-active compounds which may be used, preferably together with the anionic surface-active compounds, include in particular the reaction products of alkylene oxides, usually ethylene oxide, with alkyl (C6-C22) phenols, generally 5-25 EO, i.e. 5-25 units of ethylene oxide per molecule; the condensation products of aliphatic (C8-C18) primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, generally 2-30 EO, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylene diamine.
[0042] Other so-called nonionic surface-actives include alkyl polyglucosides, long chain tertiary amine oxides, and fatty amido polyols such as methyl glucamines.
[0043] Amphoteric or zwitterionic surface-active compounds such as alkylamidopropyl betaines can also be used in the compositions of the invention. If any amphoteric or zwitterionic detergent compounds are used, it is generally in small amounts in compositions based on the much more commonly used synthetic anionic and nonionic actives.
[0044] Soaps may also be incorporated into the compositions of the invention, preferably at a level of less than 30% by weight.
[0045] They are particularly useful at low levels in binary (soap/anionic) or ternary mixtures together with nonionic or mixed synthetic anionic and nonionic compounds. Soaps which are used are preferably the sodium, or less desirably potassium, salts of saturated or unsaturated C10-C24 fatty acids or mixtures thereof.
[0046] The amount of such soaps can be varied between 0.5 and 25% by weight, with lower amounts of 0.5 to 5% being generally sufficient for lather control. Amounts of soap between 2 and 20%, especially between 5 and 15, are used to give a beneficial effect on detergency. This is particularly valuable in compositions used in hard water where the soap acts as a supplementary builder.
[0047] The detergent compositions of the invention will normally also contain a detergency builder. Builder materials may be selected from (1) calcium sequestrant materials, (2) precipitating materials, (3) calcium ion-exchange materials and (4) mixtures thereof.
[0048] In particular, the compositions of the invention may contain any one of the organic or inorganic builder materials, such as sodium or potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium or potassium pyrophosphate, sodium or potassium orthophosphate, sodium carbonate, the sodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid, sodium citrate, carboxymethylmalonate, carboxymethyloxysuccinate, tartrate mono- and di- succinate, oxydisuccinate, crystalline or amorphous aluminosilicates and mixtures thereof.
[0049] Polycarboxylic homo- and co-polymers may also be included as builders and to function as powder structurants or processing aids. Particularly preferred are polyacrylic acid (available under the trademark Acrysol from the Rohm and Haas Company) and acrylic-maleic acid copolymers (available under the trademark Sokalan from the BASF Corporation) and alkali metal or other salts thereof.
[0050] These builder materials may be present at a level of, for example, from 1 to 80% by weight, preferably from 10 to 60% by weight.
[0051] Upon dispersal in a wash water, the initial amount of peroxygen compound should range anywhere from 0.05 to 250 ppm active oxygen per liter of water, preferably from 1 to 50 ppm. Within the wash media the amount of oxygen transfer agent initially present should be from 0.01 to 300 ppm, preferably from 5 to 100 ppm. Surfactant should be present in the wash water from 0.05 to 1.0 grams per liter, preferably from 0.15 to 0.20 grams per liter. When present, the builder amount will range from 0.1 to 3.0 grams per liter.
[0052] Apart from the components already mentioned, the detergent compositions of the invention can contain any of the conventional additives in the amounts in which such materials are normally employed in detergent compositions. Examples of these additives include dye transfer inhibition agents (e.g. polymers based on N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole), lather boosters such as alkanolamides, particularly the monoethanolamides derived from palmkernel fatty acids and coconut fatty acids, lather-depressants such as alkyl phosphates and silicones, anti-redeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose and alkyl or substituted alkylcellulose ethers, stabilizers such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and phosphonic acid derivatives (Dequest®), fabric softening agents, inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate, and, usually present in very small amounts, fluorescent agents, perfumes, enzymes such as proteases, cellulases, lipases and amylases, germicides and colorants.
[0053] The oxygen transfer agents in combination with a peroxygen compound may be useful for removing stains both in consumer type products and for industrial applications. Among consumer products incorporating this invention are laundry detergents, laundry bleaches, hard surface cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, automatic dishwashing compositions and even denture cleaners.
[0054] Stained consumer products benefiting from treatment with compositions of this invention may include clothes and other fabrics; household fixtures and applicants such as sinks, toilet bowls and oven ranges; tableware such as drinking glasses, dishes, cookware and utensils; and even dentures. Hair colorants may also be formulated with the bleach composition of this invention. The bleaching system of this invention may also be applied to industrial uses such as for the bleaching of wood pulp.
(i) from 1 to 60% by weight of a peroxygen compound; characterized in that the bleaching composition further comprises:
(ii) from 0.01 to 10% of an oxygen transfer agent whose structure is:
R1R2C=NCOR3
wherein:R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, acyl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals;
R2 is a nitro, halo or hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, R1C=NCOR3, cyano, alkoxy, keto, carboxylic and carboalkoxy radicals;
R3 is a nitro, halo or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl,
aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, and cyano radicals;
wherein at least one of R1 with R2 or R2 with R3 forms a cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, and aromatic ring system, with the proviso that
when the oxygen transfer catalyst is of the form:
wherein when X is an O or S and Q is a divalent group and Z = R1 or R2, Z cannot be an alkoxy or carboxyl group; and,
(iii) from 0.5 to 50% of a surfactant.
R1R2C=NCOR3
wherein:R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, acyl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals;
R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, acyl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals;
R2 is a nitro, halo or hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, R1C=NCOR3, cyano, alkoxy, keto, carboxylic and carboalkoxy radicals;
R3 is a nitro, halo or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl,
aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, and cyano radicals;
wherein at least one of R1 with R2 or R2 with R3 forms a cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, and aromatic ring system, with a proviso that when
the oxygen transfer catalyst is of the form:
wherein when X is an O or S and Q is a divalent group and Z = R1 or R2, Z cannot be an alkoxy or carboxyl group, and said peroxygen compound to oxygen transfer
agent being present in a molar ratio ranging from 250:1 to 1:2.
R1R2C=NCOR3
wherein:R1 is a a hydrogen or C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, acyl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals;
R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, acyl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals;
R2 is a nitro, halo or hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, R1C=NCOR3, cyano, alkoxy, keto, carboxylic and carboalkoxy radicals;
R3 is a nitro, halo or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl,
aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, and cyano radicals, wherein at least one
of R1 with R2 or R2 with R3 forms a cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, and aromatic ring system with the proviso that
when the oxygen transfer catalyst is of the form:
wherein when X is an O or S and Q is a divalent group and Z = R1 or R2, Z cannot be an alkoxy or carboxyl group; and, said contacting to achieve bleaching
being performed in said medium containing 0.05 to 250 ppm active oxygen from the peroxygen
compound, 0.01 to 300 ppm oxygen transfer agent and from 0.05 to 1.0 grams surfactant
per liter of medium.
R1R2C=NCOR3
wherein:R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, acyl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals;
R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, acyl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl and cycloalkyl radicals;
R2 is a nitro, halo or hydrogen or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, R1C=NCOR3, cyano, alkoxy, keto, carboxylic and carboalkoxy radicals;
R3 is a nitro, halo or a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl,
aryl, heterocyclic ring, alkyl, cycloalkyl, and cyano radicals;
wherein at least one of R1 with R2 or R2 with R3 forms a cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, and aromatic ring system and with a proviso that
at least one of R1, R2, R3 is substituted with a water-solubilizing functional radical selected from the group
consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, carboxylic acid, phosphoric acid, phosphonic
acid, sulfuric acid, sulphonic acid and their salt derivatives and with a further
proviso that when the oxygen transfer catalyst is of the form:
wherein when X is an O or S and Q is a divalent group and Z = R1 or R2, Z cannot be an alkoxy or carboxyl group.