Biodegradable alkaline earth metal and heavy metal ion complexing agents, useful e.g. in cleansing or detergent compositions, comprising new or known dialkylene triamine derivatives with aminomethylene moiety

摘要

The use of dialkylene triamine polycarboxylic acid derivatives (I), containing an aminomethylene moiety, as complexing agents for alkaline earth metal ions and heavy metal ions is new. Some compounds (I) are new. The use of dialkylenetriamine derivatives of formula R1R2N-CH2-N(R3)-X-NR1'R2' (I) is claimed as complexing agents for alkaline earth metal ions and heavy metal ions. R1, R1', R32-5C hydroxyalkyl, carboxy-(1-4C) alkyl, carboxy-(2-4C) alkenyl or H; R2, R2' : carboxy-(1-4C) alkyl, carboxy-(2-4C) alkenyl or H; X : 2-5C alkylene; carboxy groups are in free acid, alkali metal salt or optionally alkyl- or aryl-substituted ammonium salt form. Independent claims are included for: (a) (I) as new compounds, provided that if R1, R1', R2, R2', R3 all = CH2COOH, then X = 2C, 4C or 5C alkylene; and (b) the preparation of (I).