GB2627342A

GB2627342A - Process for the preparation of amino acids esters and organic sulfonic acids salts thereof and amino acid esters and their salts

Info

Publication number: GB2627342A
Application number: GB2319103.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ebert Sophia; Marczewski Dawid; Boeckh Dieter; Huelskoetter Frank; Si Gang; Gorczynska Costello Katarzyna
Original assignee: BASF SE
Current assignee: BASF SE
Priority date: 2022-12-16
Filing date: 2023-12-14
Publication date: 2024-08-21
Also published as: GB202319103D0

Abstract

A process for preparing esteramine and its salt comprising reacting components A+B+C in the presence of D wherein A is alcohol, B is lacton/hydroxy acid, C is lactam and D is an acid, such as alkyl sulfonic acids, such as methane sulfonic acid, ethylsulfonic acid, inorganic acids, such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, or phosphoric acid. The molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1:1.5, and the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to the total number of hydroxy-groups in component A (alcohol) being at most 1:1, preferably component C less than equal to the total number of hydroxy-groups in component A (alcohol), and the molar ratio of component B (lacton/hydroxy acid) to the total number of hydroxy-groups in component A (alcohol) being from 1:0, 1 to 1:10. Also disclosed is use of esteramine and its salts, and also compositions comprising the esteramine and its salts, especially for use in the area of cleaning and detergents.

Description

Process for the preparation of amino acids esters and organic sulfonic acid salts thereof and amino acid esters and their salts

Description

The invention relates to a process for the synthesis of amino acid esters and its acid salts. The invention also relates to amino acid esters and its salts obtainable by such process.

The esteramines and their salts obtainable or obtained by a process according to the present invention may be used in specific compositions, such as detergent, cleaning and/or fabric and home care compositions/formulations.

An advantage can be seen in the fact that the esteramines and their salts obtainable or obtained by a process according to the present invention show improved clay dispersing proper-ties and/or an improved whiteness compared to esteramines based on, for example, alkoxylated and non-alkoxylated di-and polyols of different structure, and especially compared to known esteramines without sulfate or sulfonate groups.

In a further, independent aspect, the esteramines and their salts obtainable or obtained by a process according to the present invention show improved biodegradability properties when be-ing employed, for example, within cleaning compositions.

Due to the climate change, one of the most important targets of the detergent and cleaning (D&C) industry today is to significantly lower the 002 emission per wash, by improving e.g. cold water conditions by improving the cleaning efficiency at low temperatures of below 40, 30 or 20 or even colder, to lower the amounts of chemicals employed per wash, increasing the weight-efficiency of the cleaning technologies, introducing bio-derived components etc. Hence, one important target of the D&C industry is the need for biodegradable ingredients, to improve the sustainability of the cleaning formulations (and especially the laundry and dish wash formulations) and to avoid the accumulation of non-degradable compounds in the ecosystem. Hence, there is a need to provide compounds being bio-degradable and still having at least the same performance as already known but not bio-degradable compounds, such biodegradation as measured under defined conditions within 28 days as to be required by many users especially in the field of detergents, and as being a future requirement by applicable legislation in several countries and regions of the world.

Such reduction in 002-emision or the desire to improve the "footprint" of any product is of high and even further rising interest in the industry and with the consumers, be it in terms of its origin like being from natural or renewable resources, or -all compared to previous products -its pro- duction in terms of production efficiency and thus reduced usage of energy, its efficiency in us-age such as reduced amounts for the same performance or higher performance at the same amount levels used, its persistence in the natural environment upon and/or after its usage such as bio-degradation.

As a result of these trends, there is a strong need for new biodegradable cleaning additives that provide at least comparable cleaning properties and a reduction in the 002-footprint by being bio-derived, bio-degradable or even both. The materials should preferably exhibit good primary cleaning activity, soil removal for oily/fatty and particulate stains and/or should lead to improved whiteness maintenance, minimizing the amount of suspended and emulsified oily/fatty and particulate soil from redepositing on the surfaces of the textiles or hard surfaces, etc.

Prior Art Knowledge

Organosulfate salts such as alkyl sulfate salts and alkylether sulfate salts are known to be water-soluble salts which are used as detergents or wettings agents.

Amino acid esters from amino acids with equal to or more than 3 carbon atoms can be synthe-sized from the corresponding lactams. This synthesis includes as a first step the ring-opening of the lactam to obtain the amino acid in presence of an acid, and as a second step the esterification reaction with an alcohol.

FR2977585B1 discloses a process for the synthesis of a-amino acid esters of Cr to C36-alco-hots from the amino acid or its salt in presence of an acidic catalyst such as sulfuric acid in the presence of water, starting from amino acids or salts thereof.

W02015172158 discloses salts of ethanesulfonic acid alpha and higher amino acids esters.

W02011002746 discloses the preparation of amino acids esters with sulfuric acid TRIVEDI, T. J. et al. ChemSusChem 2011, number 4, pages 604-608 describe a synthesis route to salts from alpha-C3-a4-amino acid esters and laurylsulfate which includes the formation of amino acid ester as hydrochloride salt, followed by ion exchange with sodium laurylsulfate.

SU1276661 discloses salts from protonated amino acid esters and anionic alkylsulfates. They are obtained from amino acids with 2 mol hexadecanol and excess sulfuric acid in dioxane.

JP49076822 and JP51036735 disclose a process for the preparation of amino acid ester salts with alkylsulfates by heating 1 mole of amino acid with at least 3 mole lauryl alcohol in presence of sulfuric acid. The synthesis is carried out in toluene as solvent.

W02019/007750 discloses alkoxylated esteramines and salts thereof, wherein the esteramine is derived from an alkoxylated mono-ol, reacted with an alpha-, beta-or higher aminoacid, and the salt is formed by at least partial protonation of the amine group by an acid being selected from the group consisting methanesulfonic acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid and lactic acid. W02019/007754 discloses similar structures except that those are derived from alkoxylated diols, oligo-ols and poly-ols. Both disclose a similar process comprising the reaction of the alcohol with at least one alkylene oxide followed by at least partial esterification of the alkoxylated alcohol with at least one aminoacid. Claimed are the use in personal care applications and as curing agent for epoxy resins, as reactant in the pro-duction of polymers, in polyurethanes, polyureas, or as thermoplastic polyamide adhesives.

WO 2019/110371 discloses organic sulfonic acid salts of amino acid esters and a process of production. The process comprises the steps of reacting at least one lactam with at least 3 car-bon atoms in the lactam ring with at least one organic sulfonic acid in an aqueous solution and thereafter esterifying the reaction product with at least one alcohol with at least 8 carbon atoms comprising at least one hydroxyl group with optional removal of water after the second step; preferably both steps are carried out in a single step. Alcohols employed can be any of mono-alcohols, diols, polyols, alkoxylated mono-alcohols, alkoxylated diols, and alkoxylated polyols. The molar ratio of organic sulfonic acid to lactam is in the range of from 90 to 200 mol-%.

W02020/002162 discloses esteramine salts and a production process, wherein a monocarboxylic acid or an ester thereof is reacted with an aminoalcohol and a sulfonic acid, and the molar ratio of sulfonic acid versus aminoalcohol is greater than 1:1 [mol]/[mol]. Claimed are the use in personal care applications and as curing agent for epoxy resins, as reactant in the production of polymers, in polyurethanes, polyureas, or as thermoplastic polyamide adhesives.

W02020/144030 discloses a process for the synthesis of organosulfate salts of amino acid esters comprising the steps of (i) reacting at least one lactam with at least 3 carbon atoms in the lactam ring with sulfuric acid in an aqueous solution; (ii) esterification of the reaction product of step (i) with at least 200 mol-% of at least one mono-alcohol selected from the group consisting of linear alkyl alcohol containing one hydroxy group, branched alkyl alcohol containing one hydroxy group, linear alkylether alcohol containing one hydroxy group, branched alkylether alcohol containing one hydroxy group, phenoxyalkanols containing one hydroxy group, and mixtures thereof; (iii) optionally removal of water and/or removal of excess alcohol of step 00. Preferably, the steps (i) and (ii) are carried out in one single step. The counterion being an alkylsulfate.

W02022/002761 discloses sulfatized esteramines obtainable by a process comprising step a): a) reacting at least one alcohol containing at least two hydroxy groups, which may be alkoxylated or non-alkoxylated, with at least one lactam and with sulfuric acid.

Polymers which contain a polylactone or polyhydroxy acid block in combination with a terminal esteramine moiety are described in the literature: They are obtained in a at least two step reaction sequence, where mono-or polyols are reacted with lactones or hydroxy acids under typical conditions for such polymerizations or polyconden-sations like catalytic amounts of tin catalysts (tin (II) octoate etc). In a second step, the hydroxy end groups of the obtained polyesters are esterified with amino acids. This is done with methods which allow a selective esterification, like the use of protected amino acids (protective group chemistry): Such polymers from monoalcohols like MPEG are described in W02014169403 (US20150361219) and W02016008401. Polymers based on diols are claimed in W02010055343 or K. Nagahama et al., Chemistry Letters 2010, 39 (3); 250-251. Polyols are used as core materials in US20170056548.

The polyesters are synthesized from lactones like caprolactone, or lactide or from hydroxyacids as lactic acid or glycolic acid. In US20150361219, the modification with amino acids is done with condensing agents like sulfuric acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid etc., or with protected amino groups in US20170056548, followed by removal of protecting group.

It is known, that caprolactone or 6-hydroxyhexane acid can be polymerized onto hydroxy groups with catalytic amounts of BrOnsted acids like hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric, methanesulfonic and p-toluenesulfonic acid (N. Stanley et al., J. Polym. Sci. A: Polymer Chemistry 2014, 52, 2139-2145).

Object There is a continuous need for an improved process for the preparation of sulfonate salts of amino acids esters with high yield at fast reaction times, without handling of organic solvents and without handling of gaseous corrosive acids. There is also a need for a process for the preparation of sulfonate salts of amino acid esters in one reaction with high yield, reducing reaction time and complexity of the synthesis.

There is a continuous need for amino acid ester salts which combine an amino acid ester active in detergent formulations with a sulfonate detergent for incorporation in improved detergent for-mulations for fabric and home care applications such as hard surface cleaning and laundry.

It was an object of the present invention to provide esteramines and their salts and a process to produce them which complies with the above identified objectives and needs.

This goal was achieved by the present invention as described herein below and as reflected in the claims.

It was now found that a reaction of lactones or hydroxyacids with lactams or amino acids onto hydroxy group containing structures in presence of equimolar amounts of BrOnsted acids give compounds, which bear an oligo-/ polylactone or oligo-/polyhydroxy acid block and an esteramine end group. The inclusion of an alcohol into this polymerization-type reaction leads to the esteramines and their salts as being the focus of this present invention.

In a one-step reaction the reaction of a lactone or a hydroxy acid and the esterification of the hy-droxy end group with aminoacid is achieved, when lactones or hydroxy acids are copolymerized with lactams or aminoacids in presence of stoichiometric amounts of acids referred to an amino acid or lactam. The inclusion of an alcohol into this reaction leads to the esteramines and their salts as being the focus of this present invention.

Definitions Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integer or step. When used herein the term "comprising" can be substituted with the term "containing" or "including" or sometimes when used herein with the term "having".

When used herein, "consisting of excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim element. When used herein, "consisting essentially of does not exclude materials or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claim.

In each instance herein any of the terms "comprising", "consisting essentially of and "consisting of may be replaced with either of the other two terms. "Comprising" may be replaced in a pre- (erred embodiment with "consisting essentially of and both may be replaced by "consisting of in an even more preferred embodiment.

The compositions of the present disclosure can "comprise" (i.e. contain other ingredients), "consist essentially of (comprise mainly or almost only the mentioned ingredients and other ingredients in only very minor amounts, mainly only as impurities), or "consist of (i.e. contain only the mentioned ingredients and in addition may contain only impurities not avoidable in an technical environment, preferably only the ingredients) the components of the present disclosure.

Similarly, the terms "substantially free of...." or" substantially free from..." or "(containing/comprising) essentially no...." may be used herein; this means that the indicated material is at the very minimum not deliberately added to the composition to form part of it, or, preferably, is not present at analytically detectable levels. It is meant to include compositions whereby the indicated mate-rial is present only as an impurity in one of the other materials deliberately included. The indicated material may be present, if at all, at a level of less than 1%, or even less than 0.1%, or even more less than 0.01%, or even 0%, by weight of the composition.

Generally, as used herein, the term "obtainable by" means that corresponding products do not necessarily have to be produced (i.e. obtained) by the corresponding method or process de- scribed in the respective specific context, but also products are comprised which exhibit all features of a product produced (obtained) by said corresponding method or process, wherein said products were actually not produced (obtained) by such method or process. However, the term "obtainable by" also comprises the more limiting term "obtained by", i.e. products which were ac-tually produced (obtained) by a method or process described in the respective specific context.

When used herein any definition requiring a compound or a substituent of a compound to consist of "at least a number of carbon atoms", number of carbon atoms refers to the total number of carbon atoms in said compound or substituent of a compound. For example for a substituent disclosed as "alkyl ether with at least 8 carbon atoms comprising alkylene oxide groups", the to-tal number of at least 8 carbon atoms needs to be the sum of the number of carbon atoms of the alkyl moiety and the number of carbon atoms of the alkylene oxide moieties.

All such terms not specifically defined have their ordinary meaning as known in the field of organic chemistry.

The term "containing one hydroxy group" means that only one group -OH is present. Any functionalized group derived from a hydroxy group such as an ether group is not considered to be an -OH group.

The term "containing at least two hydroxy groups" means that two or more -OH groups are present. The term "hydroxy group" is equal to the term "hydroxyl group" or "-OH group". Alcohols/compounds having only one hydroxy group, such as methanol or ethanol, do, by consequence, not fall under the definition of an alcohol containing at least two hydroxy groups according to compound (A) of the present invention. Any functionalized group derived from a hydroxy group such as an ether group is not considered to be an -OH group.

As used herein, the articles "a" and "an" when used in a claim or an embodiment, are under- stood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described. As used herein, the terms "include(s)" and "including" are meant to be non-limiting, and thus encompass more than the spe-cific item mentioned after those words.

The term "about" as used herein encompasses the exact number "X" mentioned as e.g. "about X%" etc., and small variations of X, including from minus 5 to plus 5 % deviation from X (with X for this calculation set to 100%), preferably from minus 2 to plus 2 %, more preferably from minus 1 to plus 1 %, even more preferably from minus 0,5 to plus 0,5 % and smaller variations. Of course if the value X given itself is already "100%" (such as for purity etc.) then the term "about' clearly can and thus does only mean deviations thereof which are smaller than "100".

The term "free of water" means that the composition contains no more than 5 wt.-% of water based on the total amount of solvent, in another embodiment no more than 1 wt.-% of water based on the total amount of solvent, in a further embodiment the solvent contains no water at all.

All temperatures herein are in degrees Celsius (°C) unless otherwise indicated. Unless other-wise specified, all measurements herein are conducted at 20°C and under the atmospheric pressure. In all embodiments of the present disclosure, all percentages are by weight of the to-tal composition, unless specifically stated otherwise. All ratios are weight ratios, unless specifically stated otherwise.

The phrase "fabric care composition" is meant to include compositions and formulations de-signed for treating fabric. Such compositions include but are not limited to, laundry cleaning compositions and detergents, fabric softening compositions, fabric enhancing compositions, fabric freshening compositions, laundry prewash, laundry pretreat, laundry additives, spray products, dry cleaning agent or composition, laundry rinse additive, wash additive, post-rinse fabric treatment, ironing aid, unit dose formulation, delayed delivery formulation, detergent con- tained on or in a porous substrate or nonwoven sheet, and other suitable forms that may be ap-parent to one skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein and detailed herein below when describing the compositions. Such compositions may be used as a pre-laundering treatment, a post-laundering treatment, or may be added during the rinse or wash cycle of the laundering operation, and as further detailed herein below when describing the use and application of the inventive and compositions comprising such esteramine and its salts.

"Sulfonates" in this present invention are the anions derived from sulfonic acids, preferably alkane sulfonic acid and/or aryl sulfonic acid, more preferably alkane sulfonic acid, most preferably methane sulfonic acid; such acids are used to at least partially protonate the esteramines, thus forming the sulfonates of the esteramines.

Throughout this description, the term "inventive compound" may be used instead of the "inventive esteramine(s) and/or their salt(s)" and "esteramine(s) and/or their salt(s) of this (present) invention", meaning those compounds being disclosed herein as invention, defined by their structure and/or their process to produce or obtainable by the process defined herein.

Detailed Description

The definitions and their preferences given within the "Definition"-section before are included as part of this invention as described herein below.

The specific embodiments as described throughout this disclosure are encompassed by the present invention as part of this invention; the various further options being disclosed in this present specification as "optional", "preferred", "more preferred", "even more preferred" or "most preferred" (or "preferably" etc.) options of a specific embodiment may be individually and inde- pendently (unless such independent selection is not possible by virtue of the nature of that fea-ture or if such independent selection is explicitly excluded) selected and then combined within any of the other embodiments (where other such options and preferences can be also selected individually and independently unless such independent selection is not possible by virtue of the nature of that feature or if such independent selection is explicitly excluded), with each and any and all such possible combinations being included as part of this invention as individual embodi-ments.

Compound: Esteramines and their salts The present invention relates to esteramines and their salts obtainable by a process comprising the step of reacting A+B+C in the presence of D, with (A) at least one alcohol bearing at least one hydroxy group, wherein optionally at least one hydroxy group may be alkoxylated in a step before step a) with at least one alkylene oxide, preferably at least 1 and up to 200, preferably 1 to 100, more preferably up to 50 moles alkylene oxide per hydroxy group, (B) at least one lactone and/or (preferably or) hydroxy acid, more preferably only lactone, (C) with at least one lactam and/ or (preferably or) at least one aminoacid, more preferably only lactam, and (D) an inorganic or organic acid, wherein said organic or inorganic acid has preferably a pKa value in the range of from -3 and up to +5, more preferably from -2,5 to 1,5, preferably or-ganic acid, more preferably sulfonic acids, even more preferably alkane sulfonic acid and/or aryl sulfonic acid, more preferably alkane sulfonic acid, most preferably methane sulfonic acid, wherein the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1:1.5, preferably about 1:0.95 to 1:1.1 and more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.08 and most preferably about 1: 1.02 such as exactly 1:1.02, and component C (Lactam) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being at most 1:1, preferably component C less than equal per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol), and component B (lacton/hydroxy acid) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being from 1:0,1 to 1:10.

In an alternative embodiment the invention relates to esteramines and their salts obtainable by a process comprising the step of reacting A+B+C in the presence of D, with (A) at least one alcohol bearing at least one hydroxy group, wherein optionally at least one hydroxy group may be alkoxylated in a step before step a) with at least one alkylene oxide, preferably at least 1 and up to 200, preferably 1 to 100, more preferably up to 50 moles alkylene oxide per hydroxy group, (B) at least one lactone and/or (preferably or) hydroxy acid, more preferably only lactone, (C) with at least one lactam and/ or (preferably or) at least one aminoacid, more preferably only lactam, and (D) an inorganic or organic acid, wherein said organic or inorganic acid has preferably a pKa value in the range of from -3 and up to +5, more preferably from -2,5 to 1,5, preferably organic acid, more preferably sulfonic acids, even more preferably alkane sulfonic acid and/or aryl sulfonic acid, more preferably alkane sulfonic acid, most preferably methane sulfonic acid, wherein the compounds A, B, C and D are employed in a molar ratio OH (of alcohol component A) : B (Lacton/ hydroxy acid) : C (Lactam/amino acid): D (acid) which is (1) : (0.1 -10, preferably 0,1 -5) : (0.1 -1) : (0.1 -1.5).

Alcohols containing one hydroxy-group are well-known in the art. Similarly, alcohols containing at least two hydroxy groups according to compound (A) are known to a person skilled in the art. As mentioned above, the respective alcohol may contain one, two, three, four, five or even more hydroxy groups within the respective molecule/compound. The respective alcohol may contain linear, branched and/or cyclic alkyl fragments. Beyond that, the respective alcohol may also contain aromatic fragments as well as combinations of alkyl and aromatic fragments ("aralkyl" fragments). Furthermore, the respective alcohol may also contain alkyl ether fragments. Examples of alcohols according to compound (A) are glycerol, pentaerythrit, sorbitol, 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane (TMP), erythrit or alkoxylated alcohols, such as polyethylene glycol.

Many alcohols according to compound (A) of the present invention are commercially available, for example, under the tradename "Pluronic(s)" or "Pluriol" (for example as polyethylene glycol block (co)polymers) from BASF SE.

The alcohol (A) for the inventive esteramine and the inventive process as described herein is selected from (Aa) mono-alcohols such as 01-to C36-alkanols, selected from the groups non-alkoxylated lin-ear C2-to C36-alcohols, such as mixture of such alcohols selected from C6-to C22-fatty alcohols, preferably C8-to C22-fatty alcohols, more preferably C12-and 014-fatty alcohols, most preferably C16-and C18-fatty alcohols; non-alkoxylated branched C3-to C36-alcohols such as 2-ethylhexanol, 2-propylheptanol, isotridecanol, isononanol, C9-C17 oxoalcohols; alkoxylated linear C2-to C36-alcohols such as alkoxylated mixture of C6-to C22-fatty alcohols, preferably alkoxylated mixtures of C8-to C22-fatty alcohols, more preferably alkoxylated mixtures of C12-and 014-fatty alcohols, most preferably alkoxylated mixtures of C16-and C18-fatty alcohols; alkoxylated branched C3-to C36-alcohols such as alkoxylated 2-ethylhexanol, alkoxylated 2-propylheptanol, alkoxylated isotridecanol, alkoxylated isononanol, alkoxylated C9-C17 oxoalcohols; (Ab) di-alcohols such als alkane diols, polyalkoxylated C2-C6-alkandiols bearing at least two hydroxy groups, (Ac) oligo-alcohols such as sugar alcohols, polyalkoxylated sugar alcohols, C3-C6-alkantriols, polyalkoxylated C3-C6-alkantriols, bearing at least three hydroxy groups, (Ad) polyols such as C5-C6-alkane polyols, polyalkoxylated C5-C6-alkane polyols, polyetherols such as polyglycerol or di-or tri-pentaerythrit, alkoxylated polyetherols such as alkoxylated polyglycerol, alkoxylated di-or tri-pentaerythrit, (Ae) phenoxyalkanols such as phenoxyethanol; with the alcohols preferably selected from the group Aa) of mono-alcohols and/or Ab) alkoxylated di-oligo-and polyol-alcohols, and the alcohols more preferably selected from the group of mono-alcohols and alkoxylated di-alcohols.

In a more preferred embodiment, the alcohol (A) employed for the inventive esteramine and the inventive process is an alkoxylated alcohol which is obtained by alkoxylating at least one hydroxy group of the alcohol according to claim 2 with one or more alkylene oxides to produce alkylene oxy-chains comprising one or more moieties stemming from alkylene oxides selected from C2 to C22-alkylene oxides, preferably C2-C4-alkylene oxides, whereas the moieties stem- ming from the alkylene oxide(s) may be arranged in random, block or multiblock-order or combi-nations thereof, preferably as block.

The alkoxylation of the alcohol can be achieved by either carrying out the alkoxylation reaction with only one alkylene oxide or with more than one alkylene oxide. If more than one alkylene ox- ide is used, the resulting alkylether alcohols comprises either randomly distributed alkylene ox-ide units or a block of one alkylene oxide followed by a block of another alkylene oxide or a block of one alkylene oxide followed by another block which comprises two or more alkylene oxides arranged in random order or a block comprising two or more alkylene oxides is followed by another block which comprises two or more alkylene oxides with each such block being different in their relative amount of alkylene oxides, their arrangement of alkylene oxides and/or the iden-tity of the alkylene oxides such that two block linked to each other differ in their chemical composition and arrangement; any such combination of arrangements is in principle possible, and as such is encompassed by this present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, alkyl alcohols alkoxylated with only a single al-kylene oxide are used. In a further embodiment, alkyl alcohols alkoxylated with a first alkylene oxide followed by alkoxylation with a second alkylene oxide, thereby forming a block structure of different alkylene oxide blocks, are used.

Within the context of the present invention, it is also preferred that in case compound (A) comprises an alkoxylated alcohol comprises the alkoxylated fragment being based on at least one C2-C22 alkylene oxide, preferably C2-C4-alkylene oxides, more preferably on ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, most preferably the respective alcohol comprises at least one block based on ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, and even more preferably contains only one block consisting of ethylene oxide or consisting of two blocks with the first block -preferably the "inner block" directly linked to the hydroxy-group of the alcohol -consisting of ethylene oxide and a second block -preferably being the "outer block linked to the ethylene oxide-block -con-sisting of propylene oxide.

The at least one lactone and/or hydroxy acid (compound B) for the inventive esteramine and their salts and the inventive process is selected from the groups i) and/or ii), with i) lactone(s), i.e. cyclic esters, starting with a-lactone (three ring atoms) followed by (3-lactone (four ring atoms), y-lactone (five ring atoms) and so on; such lactones preferably being 13-propiolactone, g-butyrolactone, O-valerolactone, g-valerolactone, e-caprolactone, d-decalactone, gdecalactone, e-decalactone; preferably caprolactone; and ii) hydroxy acid(s), which may be derived from any lactone by hydrolyzation, specifically from any lactone within group i) before, specifically an a-, p-or y-hydroxy acid derived from the corresponding lactone by hydrolyzation, and lactic acid, glycolic acid, 4-hydroxybutanoic acid, 6-hydroxy hexanoic acid, 12-hydroxy stearic acid, citric acid; preferably lactic acid or caprolactone, more preferably caprolactone.

Lactams are cyclic amides, starting with alpha-lactam (three ring atoms) followed by beta-lactam (four ring atoms), gamma-lactam (five ring atoms) and so on. When hydrolyzed, lactams form the corresponding alpha, beta-and gamma-amino acid.

All lactams with at least three carbon atoms in the lactam ring can be used in the present inven-tion as compounds C. In one embodiment of the present invention, lactams with of from four to twelve carbon atoms in the lactam ring are used.

In another, preferred embodiment of the present invention, lactams with of from five to seven carbon atoms in the lactam ring are used. In a further, even more preferred embodiment, a lac-tam with six carbon atoms in the lactam ring, epsilon-lactam, is used.

More specifically, the at least one lactam or aminoacid (C) for the inventive esteramine and their salts and the inventive process is selected from lactams, which are cyclic amides, starting with alpha-lactam (three ring atoms) followed by beta-lactam (four ring atoms), gamma-lactam (five ring atoms) and so on, such as epsilon-caprolactam, gamma-butyrolactam, piperidone, laurolac-tam, N-methylpyrrolidon; and the corresponding alpha-, beta-, gamma-amino acid and so on which may be obtained from the lactams by hydrolyzation, and alpha-amino acids such as alanine, glycine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, aspartate, glutamine, glutamate, histidine, lysine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, cysteine, methionine, serine; alpha-amino acids with secondary or tertiary amino groups such as sarco-sine, N,N-dimethylglycine; other amino acids such as 6-amino hexane acid, 4-amino butanoic acid, 3-amino propanoic acid, 12-amino dodecanoic acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid; preferably alanine, 6-aminohexane acid, 4-amino butyric acid, lactic acid and caprolactam, more preferably lactic acid and/or epsilon-caprolactam, most preferably epsilon-caprolactam.

The acid (D) for the inventive esteramine and their salts and the inventive process is selected from i) alkyl sulfonic acids, such as methane sulfonic acid, ethylsulfonic acid, propylsulfonic acid, camphorsulfonic acid; alkylaryl sulfonic acids and specifically alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, such as toluene sulfonic acid (including the mixture of isomers thereof), p-toluene sulfonic acid, o-tol-uene sulfonic acid, m-toluene sulfonic acid, xylene sulfonic acid (mixture of isomers), 2, 6-dimethylbenzene sulfonic acid, 2, 5-dimethylbenzene sulfonic acid, 2, 4-dimethylbenzene sulfonic acid, 4-dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, iso-propyl benzene sulfonic acid, ethylbenzene sulfonic acid, and naphthalene sulfonic acid, and ii) inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid; preferably sulfuric acid; preferably an acid selected from group i), more preferably para-toluene sulfonic acid and/or methane sulfonic acid, most preferably methane sulfonic acid.

In an alternative preferred embodiment for the inventive esteramine and the inventive process, sulfuric acid is used as acid (D). As a result then, the esteramine is obtained as at least partially sulfatized esteramine salt, as the sulfuric acid not only at least partially protonates the esteramine but also at least partially sulfatizes at least partially the hydroxy groups of the mono-alcohol or di-and polyol.

Depending on the acid employed, the esteramine is obtained as a at least partially protonated salt in cationic or zwitterionic form, when a di-or polyol is employed. When sulfuric acid is employed, the esteramine obtained is sulfatized and thus the sulfatized esteramine is obtained in zwitterionic form. With the other acids besides sulfuric acid the esteramine is obtained as at least partially protonated esteramine and thus in cationic form.

In case of a mono-alcohol, when sulfuric acid is employed, the esteramine is obtained as at least partially protonated esteramine and a sulfatized monoalcohol counterion.

In a preferred embodiment, the esteramine is obtained when the compounds A, B, C and D are employed in a molar ratio OH (of alcohol component A) : B (Lacton/ hydroxy acid) : C (Lac-tam/amino acid): D (acid) which is (1) : (0.1 -10, preferably 0,1 -5) : (0.1 -1) : (0.1 -1.5); all combinations of the individual numbers in the previous ratio explicitly form part of this invention, i.e. any number of the ranges may be chosen individually to arrive at a specific defined overall ratio of A:B:C:D.

For clarification, when the alcohol component A contains more than one hydroxy-group, the 20 "OH-number" (hydroxy-number) in the beforementioned ratio refers to each hydroxy group In a preferred embodiment, the esteramine according to any of the previous embodiments has a structure which is made of a first "block" (X) resulting from alcohol, which bears one or more hy-droxy-groups of which at least one hydroxy-group is linked via an ester function to a second block (Y) which results from a single lactone or an oligo-or polyester-block, and a third block (Z) resulting from the addition of an amino acid or a lactam to such second block, thus the esteramine exhibiting the structure "XYZ" or "X(Y)nZ" with n being integers from 1 to 10 in case the alcohol (A) is a mono-alcohol (from group Aa), whereas n can be any number from 0,1 to 10 for the esteramine in case the alcohol (A) employed is selected from the groups (Ab), (Ac) and/or (Ad) as defined herein before. with

R = mono-alcohol, di-or polyol, optionally alkoxylated o = 0.1 to 10 (and any number and decimal in between) p = 0.1-1 (and any number and decimal in between) n = 1-13 m = 1-13 R1, R2 = hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl (linear or branched) R3,R4 = hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl (linear or branched), or phenyl.

R1 R2n mNH2] Formula (I) The structures of the inventive esteramines can be depicted as follows in formula (I): 043 4 When the alcohol R in formula (I) is an alkoxylated alcohol-derived group, then the hydroxygroup in the alcohol reacting is as follows: R'-{[0-(A0).-]-0H), Formula (II) and "AO" depicting the unit stemming from the alkylene oxide monomer used to alkoxylate the alcohol, and "x" denoting the number of repeating units (on a statistical average) with x = 1 to 200, preferably up to 100, more preferably up to 50, even more preferably up to 20, such as up to 40, 30, 25, 15, 10, 5, and any number in between 1 and 200, and "q" denoting the number of (functionalized) hydroxy-groups on the alcohol, with n = 1 to 50, preferably to 20, more prefera-bly to 10, such as 25, 15, 5,4,3, and 2, and any number in between 5 and 50.

It is clear to a person of skill in the art, that the definition of the esteramines according to formula (I) and (II) is a result of an optimized way for carrying out the respective reaction and pro-cess, wherein all functional groups (of the respective starting material or any intermediate) have undergone a complete reaction. It is also clear; however, that a complete reaction (the conversion degree of 100%) is an idealized assumption. In reality, the degree of conversion is usually below 100%. Unreacted hydroxy groups etc. may be present. This fact is known to a person skilled in the art for such reactions as well as the structure according to the formulas. Irrespec- tive of that, the reaction for obtaining said structure is disclosed in the description above. By fol-lowing the general reaction conditions as well as the specific reaction conditions detailed herein including the example section, the real structure for each individual case/reaction condition is obvious for a person skilled in the art or can be determined using standard methods, such as the ones described in the experimental section.

For the sake of completeness, it is mentioned in connection with the present invention, but especially in connection with the esteramines according to formula (I) and even more so the alkyoxylation reactions leading to the alcohols of formula (II), that the reactions employed in the process according to the present invention are known by a person of skill may be leading to statistical distributions. This means that when for example "20 ethylene oxide ("20 EO") units per functional group of the molecule (i.e. in the following termed the "core") to be reacted" are employed, that does not necessarily mean that each such functional group of the core actually will bear exactly 20 EO-units; to the contrary, the resulting product obtained from such reaction is a mixture of various slightly differing products, with the main product contained in the product of the process being the product having a core being modified on each functional group with exactly 20 EO-units per functional group; however, due to the statistical reasons, this "main product" (which is the targeted product of the reaction process and which is defined by the structure of Formula (I) and (II) contemplated herein) is accompanied by many products having slight variations to this main product, where e.g. the same core-molecule is modified with E0 but the lengths of the EO-chains per functional group slightly differing from 20: some chains are slightly longer and some slightly shorter, a typically even smaller amount bearing even more E0 and some even less EO, an even smaller amount differs to a larger extent etc. The more functional groups the core bears (e.g. the more hydroxy-groups the alcohol bears), and the more e.g. alkylene oxide-units per functional group are employed, the larger is the over-all deviation from the "targeted" molecule depicted via the formulas: this means, that the content of the targeted molecule (which is depicted in the Formula (I) and (ID) decreases within the product mixture obtained (i.e. such content is then below 100% of the total amount of compound obtained), and more different, slight variations of the targeted molecule are present in addition to the targeted molecule.

This however does not cause any problem, as the explanation herein for such reactions is the identical "problem" observed for each and every polymerization reaction: Every polymer being prepared is defined by a chemical structure. Depicting such polymer structure, however, is as difficult as for the structures contemplated in this present invention: the more precise the structure of a polymer is defined, the more this depicted structure is wrong. Hence, polymers are being described by the monomers they are created from, the reaction employed (e.g. "by radical polymerization" which then implies how the monomeric units are linked), and certain other typi-cal values such as the molecular weight Mw, Mn, the polydispersity index (i.e. the broadness of the molecular weight distribution) etc. -which in fact is nothing else than saying that the polymer product obtained from the polymer reaction is a mixture of various polymer molecules which have different chain lengths, slightly differing orders of monomeric units within a chain (if more than one monomer is employed), slightly differing amounts of each monomeric unit within a chain (if more than one monomeric unit is employed) and so on.

For the present structure contemplated in this present invention, the same difficulty can arise as explained for a polymer molecule description but complicated with the fact, that a defined organic molecule/ molecules is/are also employed: the molecule(s) is/are a clearly chemically defined "organic structure", which can be pinned down exactly. However, the modifications through the inventive reaction herein are introduced by addition reactions with usually incom-plete conversion, thus introducing the concept which is the same as for description of polymers (and their "relative description" via starting materials, i.e. monomers) into a -by formula -seemingly clearly defined organic molecule.

This means for the presently contemplated structure that although it seems like a clearly defined structure of a "typical organic molecule", this is in fact not necessarily the case: the present structure is a combination of clearly defined organic chemical structure (i.e. the core, such as the individual starting materials A, B, C and D employed) fused together with "polymer descriptions" of the alkoxylated parts (when an alkoxylated alcohol is employed; such parts which are oligomers or polymers -depending on the amount of monomeric units employed for the alkoxy-lation) and also depending on how complete the various esterifications proceed.

This has to be taken in mind when the present structure is defined: the "organic structural parts" (i.e. the starting materials A, B, C and D) can be easily and clearly defined in terms of organic chemistry, whereas the "polymer structural parts" (i.e the alkoxylated parts and the structures formed via esterification) seem -on paper -to be also following the "organic chemicals struc-ture description", but in fact should be viewed also with the eye of a polymer chemist.

With this in mind, it is clear that the "structure of Formula (I)" and "...of Formula (I1)" is a combination of organic chemistry description for the starting materials employed and a polymer chemistry-description for the aloxylated parts and the chains resulting from esterifaction reactions and thus the "target molecule" of the reaction but not a "100%-structure" as in other organic mole- cules: The structure shown is the "main component" of the process described, the product con-taining smaller amounts of many slight variations of this main component side-by-side as explained herein before.

Process Encompassed by this invention is also a process for producing an esteramine and its salt, pref-erably an esteramine and its salt according to any of the previous embodiments disclosed herein before, comprising the steps of reacting (A) at least one alcohol bearing at least one hydroxy group, wherein optionally at least hydroxy group may be alkoxylated in a step before step a) with at least one alkylene oxide, preferably at least 1 and up to 200, preferably 1 to 100, more preferably up to 50 moles alkylene oxide per hydroxy group, (B) with at least one lactone and/or at least one hydroxy acid, more preferably only lactone or only hydroxyacid, more preferably only at least on lactone, most preferably only one lac-tone, and (C) with at least one lactam and/ or at least one aminoacid, more preferably only lactam or only aminoacid, more preferably only lactam, most preferably only one lactam, (D) in the presence of an inorganic or organic acid, wherein said organic or inorganic acid has preferably a pKa value in the range of from -3 and up to +5, more preferably from -2,5 to 1,5, such acid more preferably an organic acid or sulfuric acid, more preferably an organic acid, even more preferably a sulfonic acid, most preferably methane sulfonic acid, wherein the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1: 1.5, preferably about 1:0,95 to 1: 1,1 and more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.08 and most preferably about 1:1.02 such as exactly 1:1.02, and wherein the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to the total number of hydroxy-groups in component A (alcohol) being at most 1:1, preferably component C less than equal to the total number of hydroxy-groups in component A (alcohol), and wherein the molar ratio of component B (lactone/hydroxy acid) to the total number of hydroxy-groups in component A (alcohol) being from 1:0,1 to 1:10.

A,B,C and D are those as defined herein before; each of A, B, C and D may be chosen individually from any of the herein mentioned embodiments and their preferred versions thereof, espe-cially those mentioned in the section describing the inventive esteramines and their salts.

The reaction of the process takes place by providing a mixture of starting materials A, B and C and then adding the acid; the addition of the acid preferably being over a certain period of time. The reaction can take place with the presence of a solvent or without solvent.

Reaction of the lactam ring takes preferably place by reacting the at least one lactam and/or amino acid with the at least one lacton and/or hydroxy acid and with the acid. This reaction is carried out in an aqueous solution. In one embodiment of the present application this reaction takes place with the acid in an aqueous solution containing only water.

The term "aqueous solution" means that the solvent contains more than 50 wt.-% of water based on the total amount of solvent. In a further embodiment the term means that the solvent contains more than 80 wt.-% of water based on the total amount of solvent. In another embodiment the term means that the solvent contains more than 95 wt.-% of water based on the total amount of solvent. In a further embodiment the term means that the solvent contains more than 99 wt.-% of water based on the total amount of solvent. In an even further embodiment the term means that the solvent contains only water.

In another, more preferred embodiment, the reaction takes place with the solvent(s) employed being minimized, i.e. under "essentially water-free conditions", which means that the amount of water within the reaction mixture is minimized by not actively bringing in water; however, water might be brought in as hydrate water and/or as impurity in a compound employed.

In one embodiment of the present invention no additional solvent other than water is present in the process at the start -except for water that may be introduced as a contaminant in one of the starting materials A,B, C and or D. Preferably, such amount of water is minimized in that no starting material is employed which contains water; in case an acid is employed as an aqueous solution, the concentration of such acid is as high as commercially acceptable, i.e. the typically "concentrated" acids as commercially available are employed.

Also, when a hydroxy acid is employed, water forms upon condensation; hence, the use of lac-tones instead of hydroxy acids reduces the amount of water being generated during the reaction and thus such lactones are preferred over the use of hydroxy acids.

Similarly, the lactams can be employed as a liquid (at usually temperatures above room temperature, i.e. above their melting points), but for commercial reasons it may be preferred to employ solid starting material as aqueous solutions due to much easier handling and also lower energy costs as melting is avoided.

In all such cases when water is employed as part of the starting material(s), such water -in-cluding the water being generated during the condensation reactions -needs to be removed during and/or after the reaction. Removal of water can be done by the usual means such as distilling of water at elevated temperature or by using reduced pressure, optionally also at higher temperatures above room temperature.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the lactam is selected from the group consisting of a lactam with five carbon atoms in the lactam ring, and a lactam with six carbon atoms in the lactam ring, and the reaction with acid is carried out in an aqueous solution. In another embodiment of the present invention, the lactam has five carbon atoms in the lactam ring and the reac-tion with acid is carried out in an aqueous solution.

In a preferred embodiment of the beforemenfioned embodiments, the acid is an alkyl-or aryl sulfonic acid, preferably an alkyl sulfonic acid, and most preferably methane sulfonic acid.

In one embodiment the lactam/amino acid is either dissolved in water or is dispersed in an aqueous phase. Typical concentration of lactam/amino acid in water is in the range of from 50 % by weight to 99 % by weight based on the total weight of lactam/amino acid and water. In one embodiment of the present invention the concentration of lactam/amino acid in water is in the range of from 55 to 90 % by weight based on the total weight of the lactam/amino acid and water. In a further embodiment the concentration of lactam/amino acid in water is in the range of from 65 to 80 % by weight based on the total weight of the lactam/amino acid and water.

In one embodiment, sulfuric acid is used as concentrated sulfuric acid. In another embodiment, sulfuric acid is used as 96 to 98 wt.-% sulfuric acid solution in water. In a further embodiment sulfuric acid is used as 80 wt.-% sulfuric acid solution in water.

In a preferred embodiment, methane sulfonic acid is used as concentrated methane sulfonic acid. In another preferred embodiment, methane sulfonic acid is used as about 70wt.-°/0 methane sulfonic acid solution in water or as "pure" acid, e.g. typically close to 100wt.°/0 purity (equal to "about 100 wt.%"); any concentration in between however can also be employed. In a further preferred embodiment methane sulfonic acid is used as about 70 wt.-% methane sul-Tonic acid-solution in water.

In one embodiment of the present invention the total amount of acid is added at the beginning of the reaction to the mixture of A+B+C. In another embodiment the acid is added dropwise for a duration of from 0.1 to 10 h to the mixture of A+B+C, provided that during the reaction the acid is always present.

For the reaction, the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1:1.5, preferably about 1:0,95 to 1:1,1 and more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.08 and most preferably about 1: 1.02 such as exactly 1:1.02, and the ratio of component C (Lactam) to the total number of hydroxy-groups in component A (alco-hol) is at most 1:1, preferably the amount of component C is less than equal to the total number of hydroxy-groups in component A (alcohol), and the molar ratio of component B (lactone/hydroxy acid) to the total number of hydroxy-groups in component A (alcohol) being from 1:0,1 to 1:10.

The reaction of the mixture of A+B+C in the presence of acid D is carried out at temperatures of from 50 to 150°C. In one embodiment of the invention, the reaction is carried out at temperatures of from 80 to 140°C. In another embodiment the reaction is carried out at temperatures of from 90 to 130°C. In one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature is kept constant for the duration of the reaction. In another embodiment, the temperature is varied within the temperature range during the duration of the reaction. The reaction of the mixture of A+B+C in the presence of acid D is carried out for a duration of from 0.1 to 15 hours. In another embodiment of the present invention the duration is of from 1 to 10 hours. In another embodiment the duration is of from 2 to 5 hours. In one embodiment of the present invention the reaction is carried out under atmospheric pressure. In another embodiment the reaction is carried out in a closed vessel under pressure of from 1 to 10 bar. In a further embodiment the reaction is carried out in a closed vessel under pressure of from 1 to 5 bar. In another embodiment the reaction is carried out in a closed vessel under pressure of from 1 to 4 bar.

In one embodiment a protective atmosphere of for example nitrogen gas or argon gas is used to carry out the reaction. In another embodiment the reaction is carried at a temperature of from 50 to 150°C at atmospheric pressure for a duration of 0.1 to 10 h. In a further embodiment of the present invention the reaction is carried at a temperature of from 90 to 130°C for 3 hours under atmospheric pressure. In another embodiment of the present invention the reaction is carried at a temperature of from 50 to 150°C for a duration of 0.1 to 10 h hours in a closed vessel under pressure of from 1.0 to 10 bar.

Although not intended to limit the invention, it is considered that in this reaction in principle three to five parallel esterification reactions take place,-depending on the employed starting material: One esterification reaction is the reaction of the hydroxy-group of the alcohol with the lactone /hydroxy acid; the second is the reaction of the hydroxy-group of the alcohol with the lactam; the third is the reaction of the hydroxy-group of the hydroxy acid or from the opened lactone with the lactam; the fourth is the reaction of the hydroxy-group of the hydroxy acid or from the opened lactone with the sulfuric acid; the fifth is the reaction of the hydroxy-group of the alcohol with the sulfuric acid.

An ester of the carboxylic group is formed by ring-opening of the lactam with acid and at least one alcohol selected from the group consisting of i) linear alkyl alcohol containing at least one hydroxy-group, ii) branched alkyl alcohol containing at least one hydroxy-group, iii) linear alkylether alcohol containing at least one hydroxy-group, iv) branched alkylether alcohol containing at least one hydroxy-group, v) phenoxyalkanols containing at least one hydroxy-group, and vi) any mixtures thereof comprising more than one alcohol selected from any group of i) to v).

Another ester is formed from sulfuric acid and at least one alcohol selected from the group con-sisting of I i) linear alkyl alcohol containing at least one hydroxy-group, ii) branched alkyl alcohol containing at least one hydroxy-group, iii) linear alkylether alcohol containing at least one hydroxy-group, iv) branched alkylether alcohol containing at least one hydroxy-group, v) phenoxyalkanols containing at least one hydroxy-group, and vi) any mixtures thereof comprising more than one alcohol selected from any group of i) to v).; this second esterification reaction does not take place with the other acids, i.e. does not take place with acids such as methane sulfonic acid.

In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one linear or branched C2-to C36-alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group is used. In a preferred embodiment thereof at least one C8-to C22-fatty alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group is used. In a more preferred embodiment thereof a mixture of C16-and Cis-fatty alcohols each containing at least one hydroxy group is used. In another more preferred embodiment thereof a mixture of C18-and C22-fatty alcohols each containing at least one hydroxy group is used. In another more preferred embodi- ment thereof at least one branched Cs-to 017 alcohol is used. In a further more preferred em-bodiment thereof linear or branched Ca-to C10-mono-alcohols containing at least one hydroxy group are used. In a further even more preferred embodiment thereof 2-propylheptanol or 2-ethylhexanol are used. In another even more preferred embodiment thereof 2-ethylhexanol is used.

In another embodiment, alkylether alcohols are used. Alkylether alcohols are for example alkyl alcohols alkoxylated with ethylene oxide, and/or propylene oxide, and/or butylene oxide. In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one linear or branched 02-to C36-alcohol containing at least one, preferably at least two hydroxy group alkoxylated with ethylene oxide, and/or propylene oxide, and/or butylene oxide is used. In another embodiment at least one Ca-to C22-alcohol containing at least one, preferably at least two hydroxy group alkoxylated with ethylene oxide, and/or propylene oxide, and/or butylene oxide is used.

Alkoxylation of the alcohol is either carried out with only one alkylene oxide or with more than one alkylene oxide. If more than one alkylene oxide is used, the resulting alkylether alcohols comprises either randomly distributed alkylene oxide units or a block of one alkylene oxide fol- lowed by a block of another alkylene oxide. In one embodiment of the present invention, alkyl alcohols alkoxylated with only a single alkylene oxide are used. In a further embodiment, alkyl alcohols alkoxylated with a first alkylene oxide followed by alkoxylation with a second alkylene oxide, thereby forming a block structure of different alkylene oxide blocks, are used. In even an-other embodiment, alkoxylated 2-propylheptanole is used.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one phenoxyalkanol is used. In another more preferred embodiment phenoxyethanol is used.

The esterification reaction of is carried out at temperatures in the range of from 80 to 200°C. In another embodiment of the present invention the esterification reaction is carried out at temper-atures in the range of from 120 to 140°C. In one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature is kept constant for the duration of the reaction. In another embodiment, the temperature is varied within the temperature range during the duration of the reaction. The duration of the reaction is from 1 to 30 h. In another embodiment of the present invention, the duration of the reaction is from 2 to 5 h. In a further embodiment the reaction is carried out in a closed ves- sel under pressure of from 1 to 10 bar. In a further embodiment the reaction is carried out in a closed vessel under pressure of from 1 to 5 bar. In another embodiment the reaction is carried out in a closed vessel under pressure of from 1 to 4 bar. In one embodiment a protective atmosphere of for example nitrogen gas or argon gas is used to carry out the reaction. In another em-bodiment the reaction is carried at a temperature of from 80 to 200°C at atmospheric pressure for a duration of 0.1 to 10 h. In a further embodiment of the present invention the reaction is carried at a temperature of from 90 to 130°C for 3 hours under atmospheric pressure. In another embodiment of the present invention the reaction is carried at a temperature of from 80 to 200°C for a duration of 0.1 to 30 h hours in a closed vessel under pressure of from 1.0 to 10 bar.

In one embodiment of the present invention the reaction is carried out by mixing at least one lactam having at least 3 carbon atoms in an aqueous solution and at least one alcohol selected from the group consisting of linear alkyl alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group, branched alkyl alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group, linear alkylether alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group, branched alkylether alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group, phenoxyalkanols containing at least one hydroxy group, and any mixtures thereof, and at least one lac-tone and/or hydroxy acid as defined before, and addition of acid followed by sealing of the vessel to react the mixture at a temperature of 80 to 200°C for 1 to 30 h. In a further embodiment of the present invention the reaction is carried out by mixing at least one lactam having at least 3 carbon atoms and at least one alcohol selected from the group consisting of linear alkyl alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group, branched alkyl alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group, linear alkylether alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group, branched alkylether alcohol containing at least one hydroxy group, phenoxyalkanols con- taining at least one hydroxy group, and any mixtures thereof, and at least one lacton and/or hy-droxy acid as defined before, and addition of acid followed by sealing of the vessel to react the mixture at a temperature of 80 to 200°C for 1 to 30 h at a pressure of from 1.0 to 10 bar.

Following the reaction, water and/or excess alcohol can be removed. Removal of water and al- cohol can be carried out by all techniques known in the art, for example by application of a vac-uum. In one embodiment of the present invention, the optional removal of water and/or excess of alcohol, is carried out applying a vacuum in the range of from 0.1 mbar to 800 mbar. In another embodiment vacuum in the range of from 1 mbar to 500 mbar is applied. In a further embodiment vacuum in the range of from 10 mbar to 100 mbar is applied Uses Another subject matter of the present invention is the use of the above-mentioned esteramines and their salts in cleaning compositions.

The esteramines and their salts can be added to cleaning compositions.

The esteramines and/or their salts are present in said formulations at a concentration of 0.1 to 5 weight%, preferably at a concentration of 0.5 to 2 weight%.

The inventive esteramines and their salts can also be added to a cleaning composition compris-ing from about 1% to about 70% by weight of a surfactant system. The inventive esteramines and/or their salts may be present in a cleaning composition at a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the composition, or at a concentration of from about 0.5% to about 2% by weight of the composition.

Hence, another subject matter of the present invention is the use of the esteramines and their salts of this invention and/or obtained by or obtainable by a process of the invention and/or as detailed before, in fabric and home care products, in particular cleaning compositions for improved oily and fatty stain removal, removal of solid dirt such as clay, prevention of greying of fabric surfaces, and/or anti-scale agents, wherein the cleaning composition is preferably a laundry de-tergent formulation and/or a dish wash detergent formulation, more preferably a liquid laundry detergent formulation and/or a liquid manual dish wash detergent formulation.

Another subject-matter of the present invention is, therefore, also a cleaning composition, fabric and home care product, industrial and institutional cleaning product, preferably in laundry deter-gents, in cleaning compositions and/or in fabric and home care products, each comprising at least one esteramine or salt thereof as defined above or obtained by or obtainable by a process of the invention and/or as detailed herein.

A further subject-matter of the present invention is a fabric and home care product, cleaning composition, industrial and institutional cleaning product, preferably a laundry detergent, a cleaning composition and/or a fabric and home care product, each containing at least one esteramine or salt thereof of the invention and/or as described above.

In a preferred embodiment, it is a cleaning composition and/or fabric and home care product and/or industrial and institutional cleaning product, comprising at least one esteramine or salt thereof as defined above. In particular, it is a cleaning composition for improved cleaning perfor-mance, especially improved primary washing, preferably a laundry detergent formulation and/or a manual dish wash detergent formulation, more preferably a liquid laundry detergent formulation and/or a liquid manual dish wash detergent formulation.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition of the present invention is a liquid or solid laundry detergent composition, preferably a liquid laundry detergent composition.

In another preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition of the present invention is a liquid or solid (e.g. powder or tab/unit dose) detergent composition for manual or automatic dish wash, preferably a liquid manual dish wash detergent composition. Such compositions are known to a person of skill in the art.

In another embodiment, the cleaning composition of the present invention is a hard surface cleaning composition that may be used for cleaning various surfaces such as hard wood, tile, ceramic, plastic, leather, metal, glass.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the inventive esteramine or its salt is a component of a cleaning compositions or fabric and home care product, preferably a laundry cleaning composition, a laundry care product or laundry treatment product or laundry washing product, preferably a liquid laundry detergent formulation or liquid laundry detergent product, that each addi-tionally comprise at least one surfactant, preferably at least one anionic surfactant.

In one embodiment it is also preferred in the present invention that the cleaning composition comprises (besides at least one esteramine or salt thereof as described above) additionally at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more optionally further comprising at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellu-lases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, pectinases, lactases, pectate lyases, cutinases, DNases, xylanases, oxicoreductases, dispersins, mannanases and peroxidases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, preferably at least one enzyme being selected from lipases.

Even more preferably, the cleaning compositions of the present invention comprising at least one inventive esteramine or salt and optionally further comprising at least one surfactant or a surfactant system -as detailed before -are those for improved cleaning performance within laundry and manual dish wash applications, even more specifically, for improved cleaning performance (such actions as detailed before) such as those on fabrics and dishware, and may additionally comprise at least one enzyme selected from the list consisting of optionally further comprising at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more optionally further comprising at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, pectinases, lactases, pectate lyases, cutinases, DNases, xylanases, oxicoreductases, dispersins, mannanases and peroxidases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amyl-ases, proteases, cellulases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types, more preferably at least one enzyme being selected from lipases.

In one embodiment, the inventive esteramine or salt thereof may be utilized in cleaning composi-tions comprising a surfactant system comprising C10-015 alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS) as the primary surfactant and one or more additional surfactants selected from non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic or other anionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof.

In a further embodiment the inventive esteramine or its salt may be utilized in cleaning composi-tions or fabric and home care product, preferably a laundry cleaning composition, a laundry care product or laundry washing product, preferably a liquid laundry detergent formulation or liquid laundry detergent product, comprising C12-018 alkyl ethoxylate surfactants with 5-10 ethoxy-units as the primary surfactant and one or more additional surfactants selected from anionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic or other non-ionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof.

In a further embodiment, the inventive esteramine or its salt may be utilized in the cleaning compositions or fabric and home care product, preferably a laundry cleaning composition, a laundry care product or laundry treatment product or laundry washing product, preferably a liquid laundry detergent formulation or liquid laundry detergent product, comprising C8-C18 linear or branched alkyl ethersulfates with 1-5 ethoxy-units as the primary surfactant and one or more additional surfactants selected from non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic or other anionic surfactants, or mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the esteramine or salt thereof is a component of a cleaning composition, such as preferably a laundry or a dish wash formulation, more preferably a liquid laundry or manual dish wash formulation, that each additionally comprise at least one surfactant, preferably at least one anionic surfactant.

In a further embodiment, this invention also encompasses a composition comprising at least one esteramine or salt thereof as described herein before, further comprises an antimicrobial agent as disclosed hereinafter, preferably selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol, more preferably comprising said antimicrobial agent in an amount ranging from 2ppm to 5% by weight of the composition; even more preferably comprising 0.1 to 2% of phenoxyethanol.

In a further embodiment, this invention also encompasses a composition, preferably a cleaning composition, more preferably a liquid laundry detergent composition or a liquid hand dish composition, even more preferably a liquid laundry detergent composition, or a liquid softener composition for use in laundry, such composition comprising an esteramine or its salt in the amounts detailed before as described herein before, such composition further comprising 4,4'-dichoro 2-hydroxydiphenylether in a concentration from 0.001 to 3%, preferably 0.002 to 1%, more preferably 0.01 to 0.6%, each by weight of the composition.

In a further embodiment, this invention also encompasses a composition, specifically a cleaning composition, more preferably a cleaning composition in liquid, solid or semi-solid form, prefera- bly being a concentrated liquid detergent formulation, single mono doses laundry detergent formulation, liquid hand dish washing detergent formulation or solid automatic dish washing formulation, more preferably a laundry detergent formulation, comprising an esteramine or its salt as described herein before and in the amounts as detailed before, such composition being prefera- bly a detergent composition, such composition further comprising an antimicrobial agent as dis-closed hereinafter, preferably selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol, more preferably comprising said antimicrobial agent in an amount ranging from 2ppm to 5% by weight of the composition; even more preferably comprising 0.1 to 2% of phenoxyethanol.

In a further embodiment, this invention also encompasses a method of preserving an aqueous composition against microbial contamination or growth, such composition, specifically a cleaning composition, more preferably a cleaning composition in liquid, solid or semi-solid form, preferably being a concentrated liquid detergent formulation, single mono doses laundry detergent formulation, liquid hand dish washing detergent formulation or solid automatic dish washing for-mulation, more preferably a laundry detergent formulation, comprising an esteramine or its salt as described herein before and in the amounts detailed before, such composition being preferably a detergent composition, such method comprising adding at least one antimicrobial agent selected from the disclosed antimicrobial agents as disclosed hereinafter, such antimicrobial agent preferably being 2-phenoxyethanol.

In a further embodiment, this invention also encompasses a method of laundering fabric or of cleaning hard surfaces, which method comprises treating a fabric or a hard surface with a cleaning composition, more preferably a liquid laundry detergent composition or a liquid hand dish composition, even more preferably a liquid laundry detergent composition, or a liquid sof-tener composition for use in laundry, such composition comprising an esteramine or its salt in the amounts detailed before, such composition further comprising 4,4'-dichoro 2-hydroxydiphenylether.

As used herein the phrase "cleaning composition" as used for the inventive compositions and products includes compositions and formulations designed for cleaning soiled material. Such compositions include but are not limited to, laundry cleaning compositions and detergents, fabric softening compositions, fabric enhancing compositions, fabric freshening compositions, laun- dry prewash, laundry pretreat, laundry additives, spray products, dry cleaning agent or composi-tion, laundry rinse additive, wash additive, post-rinse fabric treatment, ironing aid, dish washing compositions, hard surface cleaning compositions, unit dose formulation, delayed delivery formulation, detergent contained on or in a porous substrate or nonwoven sheet, and other suitable forms that may be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. Such compositions may be used as a pre-laundering treatment, a post-laundering treatment, or may be added during the rinse or wash cycle of the laundering operation. The cleaning compositions may have a form selected from liquid, powder, single-phase or multi-phase unit dose, pouch, tablet, gel, paste, bar, or flake.

The cleaning compositions of the invention comprise a surfactant system in an amount sufficient to provide desired cleaning properties. In some embodiments, the cleaning composition comprises, by weight of the composition, from about 1% to about 70% of a surfactant system. In other embodiments, the liquid cleaning composition comprises, by weight of the composition, from about 2% to about 60% of the surfactant system. In further embodiments, the cleaning composition comprises, by weight of the composition, from about 5% to about 30% of the surfactant system. The surfactant system may comprise a detersive surfactant selected from anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a detersive surfactant encompasses any surfactant or mixture of surfactants that provide cleaning, stain removing, or laundering benefit to soiled material.

Even more preferably, the compositions or products of the present invention as detailed herein before comprising at least one inventive esteramine and/or its salt obtained or obtainable by the inventive process as detailed herein and in the amounts as specified in the previous paragraph, optionally further comprising at least one surfactant or a surfactant system in amounts from about 1% to about 70% by weight of the composition or product, are preferably those for primary cleaning (i.e. removal of stains) and more preferably within laundry applications, and may additionally comprise at least one enzyme selected from lipases, hydrolases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, mannanases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, xylanases, DNases, dispersins, pectinases, oxidoreductases, cutinases, lactases and peroxidases, more preferably at least two of the aforementioned types.

The phrase "cleaning composition" as used herein includes compositions and formulations and products designed for cleaning soiled material. Such compositions, formulations and products include those designed for cleaning soiled material or soiled surfaces of any kind.

Compositions for "industrial and institutional cleaning" includes such cleaning compositions be-ing designed for use in industrial and institutional cleaning, such as those for use of cleaning soiled material or surfaces of any kind, such as hard surface cleaners for surfaces of any kind, including tiles, carpets, PVC-surfaces, wooden surfaces, metal surfaces, lacquered surfaces.

"Compositions for Fabric and Home Care" include cleaning compositions including but not limited to laundry cleaning compositions and detergents, fabric softening compositions, fabric enhancing compositions, fabric freshening compositions, laundry prewash, laundry pretreat, laundry additives, spray products, dry cleaning agent or composition, laundry rinse additive, wash additive, post-rinse fabric treatment, ironing aid, dish washing compositions, hard surface clean-ing compositions, unit dose formulation, delayed delivery formulation, detergent contained on or in a porous substrate or nonwoven sheet, and other suitable forms that may be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. Such compositions may be used as a pre-laundering treatment, a post-laundering treatment, or may be added during the rinse or wash cycle of the laundering operation, preferably during the wash cycle of the laundering or dish washing operation.

The cleaning compositions of the invention may be in any form, namely, in the form of a liquid; a solid such as a powder, granules, agglomerate, paste, tablet, pouches, bar, gel; an emulsion; types delivered in dual-or multi-compartment containers; single-phase or multi-phase unit dose; a spray or foam detergent; premoistened wipes (i.e., the cleaning composition in combination with a nonwoven material such as that discussed in US 6,121,165, Mackey, et al.); dry wipes (i.e., the cleaning composition in combination with a nonwoven materials, such as that discussed in US 5,980,931, Fowler, et al.) activated with water by a user or consumer; and other homogeneous, non-homogeneous or single-phase or multiphase cleaning product forms.

The liquid cleaning compositions of the present invention preferably have a viscosity of from 50 to 10000 mPa*s; liquid manual dish wash cleaning compositions (also liquid manual "dish wash compositions") have a viscosity of preferably from 100 to 10000 mPa*s, more preferably from 200 to 5000 mPa*s and most preferably from 500 to 3000 mPa*s at 20 1/s and 20°C; liquid laundry cleaning compositions have a viscosity of preferably from 50 to 3000 mPa*s, more pref-erably from 100 to 1500 mPa*s and most preferably from 200 to 1000 mPa*s at 20 1/s and 20°C.

The cleaning compositions may also contain adjunct cleaning additives. Suitable adjunct clean-ing additives include builders, structurants or thickeners, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents, polymeric soil release agents, polymeric dispersing agents, polymeric grease cleaning agents, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing systems, bleaching compounds, bleaching agents, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, brighteners, dyes, hueing agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, chelating agents, suds suppressors, softeners, and perfumes.

All such cleaning compositions, their ingredients including (adjunct) cleaning additives, their general compositions and more specific compositions are known, as for example illustrated in the publications 800542 and 800500 as published by Protegas, Liechtenstein, and also from WO 2022/136409 and WO 2022/136408, wherein in any of the before prior art documents the esteramines and their salts within the general compositions and also each individualized spe- cific cleaning composition disclosed in the beforementioned publications may be replaced partially or completely by the esteramines and/or their salts of this present invention. In those beforementioned documents, also various types of formulations for cleaning compositions are disclosed; all such composition types -the general compositions and also each individualized spe- cific cleaning composition -can be equally applied also to those cleaning compositions contem-plated herein.

Hence, the present invention also encompasses any and all of such disclosed compositions of the before-mentioned prior art-disclosures but further comprising at least one of the inventive esteramines and/or their salts in addition to or as a replacement for any already ins such prior art-composition contained esteramine or esteramine saltor any such compound, which can be replaced by such inventive esteramine or salts -such replacements known to a person of skill in the art -, with the content of the inventive esteramine or its salt being present in said formulations at a concentration of generally from 0,05 to 20 wt.%, preferably up to 10 wt. %, more preferably 0.1 to 5 weight%, even more preferably at a concentration of 0.5 to 2 weight%.

The liquid cleaning compositions of the present invention may have any suitable pH-value. Pref-erably the pH of the composition is adjusted to between 4 and 14. More preferably the composition has a pH of from 6 to 13, even more preferably from 6 to 10, most preferably from 7 to 9. The pH of the composition can be adjusted using pH modifying ingredients known in the art and is measured as a 10% product concentration in demineralized water at 25°C. For example, NaOH may be used and the actual weight% of NaOH may be varied and trimmed up to the de-sired pH such as pH 8.0. In one embodiment of the present invention, a pH >7 is adjusted by using amines, preferably alkanolamines, more preferably triethanolamine.

The selection of the additional surfactants and further ingredients (both further described below in the chapter "Cleaning additives") in these embodiments may be dependent upon the applica-tion and the desired benefit.

General description of cleaning compositions, formulations and their ingredients Cleaning compositions such as fabric and home care products and formulations for industrial and institutional cleaning, more specifically such as laundry and manual dish wash detergents, are known to a person skilled in the art. Any composition etc. known to a person skilled in the art, in connection with the respective use, can be employed within the context of the present invention by including at least one inventive compound, preferably at least one such inventive compound in amounts suitable for expressing a certain property within such a composition, es-pecially when such a composition is used in its area of use.

Cleaning additives The cleaning compositions and formulations of the invention may -and preferably do -contain adjunct cleaning additives (also abbreviated herein as "adjuncts"), such adjuncts being preferably in addition to a surfactant system as defined before.

Suitable adjunct cleaning additives include builders, cobuilders, structurants or thickeners, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition agents, polymeric soil release agents, dispersants such as poly-meric dispersing agents, polymeric grease cleaning agents, solubilizing agents, chelating agents, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing systems, bleaching compounds, bleaching agents, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, brighteners, malodor control agents, pigments, dyes, opacifiers, hueing agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, chelating agents, suds boosters, suds suppressors (antifoams), color speckles, silver care, anti-tarnish and/or anti-corrosion agents, alkalinity sources, pH adjusters, pH-buffer agents, hydrotropes, scrubbing particles, antibacterial agents, anti-oxidants, softeners, carriers, processing aids, pro-perfumes, and perfumes. Ails such adjuncts are detailed and exemplified further below in the following chapters.

Liquid cleaning compositions additionally may comprise -and preferably do comprise at least one of -rheology control/modifying agents, emollients, humectants, skin rejuvenating actives, and solvents.

Solid compositions additionally may comprise -and preferably do comprise at least one of -fill-ers, bleaches, bleach activators and catalytic materials.

Suitable examples of such cleaning adjuncts and levels of use are found in WO 99/05242, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,576,282, 6,306,812 B1 and 6,326,348 B1.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a detersive surfactant encompasses any surfactant or mixture of surfactants that provide cleaning, stain removing, or laundering benefit to soiled material.

Hence, the cleaning compositions of the invention such as fabric and home care products, and formulations for industrial and institutional cleaning, more specifically such as laundry and manual dish wash detergents, preferably additionally comprise a surfactant system and, more pref-erably, also further adjuncts, as the one described above and below in more detail.

The surfactant system may be composed from one surfactant or from a combination of surfactants selected from anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a surfactant system for detergents encompasses any surfactant or mixture of surfactants that provide cleaning, stain removing, or laundering benefit to soiled material.

The cleaning compositions of the invention preferably comprise a surfactant system in an amount sufficient to provide desired cleaning properties. In some embodiments, the cleaning composition comprises, by weight of the composition, from about 1% to about 70% of a surfactant system. In other embodiments, the liquid cleaning composition comprises, by weight of the composition, from about 2% to about 60% of the surfactant system. In further embodiments, the cleaning composition comprises, by weight of the composition, from about 5% to about 30% of the surfactant system. The surfactant system may comprise a detersive surfactant selected from anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

Laundry compositions "Laundry composition" may be any composition, formulation or product which is intended for use in laundry including laundry care, laundry cleaning etc.; hence this term will be used in the following denoting any composition, formulation or product.

In laundry compositions, anionic surfactants contribute usually by far the largest share of surfactants within such formulation. Hence, preferably, the inventive cleaning compositions for use in laundry comprise at least one anionic surfactant and optionally further surfactants selected from any of the surfactant classes described herein, preferably from non-ionic surfactants and/or am-photeric surfactants and/or zwitterionic surfactants and/or cationic surfactants.

Cleaning compositions may -and preferably do -also contain anionic surfactants -which may be employed also in combinations of more than one other surfactant.

Nonlimiting examples of anionic surfactants -which may be employed also in combinations of more than one surfactant -useful herein include C9-C20 linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS), C10-C20 primary, branched chain and random alkyl sulfates (AS); C10-C18 secondary (2,3) alkyl sulfates; C10-C18 alkyl alkoxy sulfates (AExS) wherein x is from 1 to 30; C10-C18 alkyl alkoxy carboxylates comprising 1 to 5 ethoxy units; mid-chain branched alkyl sulfates as discussed in US 6,020,303 and US 6,060,443; mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxy sulfates as dis- cussed in US 6,008,181 and US 6,020,303; modified alkylbenzene sulfonate (MLAS) as dis-cussed in WO 99/05243, WO 99/05242 and WO 99/05244; methyl ester sulfonate (MES); and alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS).

Preferred examples of suitable anionic surfactants are alkali metal and ammonium salts of C8C12-alkyl sulfates, of C12-C18-fatty alcohol ether sulfates, of C12-C18-fatty alcohol polyether sulfates, of sulfuric acid half-esters of ethoxylated C4-C12-alkylphenols (ethoxylation: 3 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide/mol), of C12-C18-alkylsulfonic acids, of C12-C18 sulfo fatty acid alkyl esters, for example of C12-018 sulfo fatty acid methyl esters, of C10-C18-alkylarylsulfonic acids, preferably of n-C10-C18-alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, of C10-C18 alkyl alkoxy carboxylates and of soaps such as for example C8-C24-carboxylic acids. Preference is given to the alkali metal salts of the aforementioned compounds, particularly preferably the sodium salts.

In one embodiment of the present invention, anionic surfactants are selected from n-C10-C18-alkylbenzene sulfonic acids and from fatty alcohol polyether sulfates, which, within the context of the present invention, are in particular sulfuric acid half-esters of ethoxylated 012-C18-alkanols (ethoxylation: 1 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide/mol), preferably of n-C12-C18-alkanols.

In one embodiment of the present invention, also alcohol polyether sulfates derived from branched (i.e., synthetic) C11-C18-alkanols (ethoxylation: 1 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide/mol) may be employed.

Preferably, the alkoxylation group of both types of alkoxylated alkyl sulfates, based on C12C18-fatty alcohols or based on branched (i.e., synthetic) C11-C18-alcohols, is an ethoxylation group and an average ethoxylation degree of any of the alkoxylated alkyl sulfates is 1 to 5, pref-erably 1 to 3.

Preferably, the laundry detergent formulation of the present invention comprises from at least 1 wt. % to 50 wt. %, preferably in the range from greater than or equal to about 2 wt. % to equal to or less than about 30 wt. %, more preferably in the range from greater than or equal to 3 wt. c/0 to less than or equal to 25 wt. %, and most preferably in the range from greater than or equal to wt. % to less than or equal to 25 wt. % of one or more anionic surfactants as described above, based on the particular overall composition, including other components and water and/or solvents.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, anionic surfactants are selected from C10- C15 linear alkylbenzenesulfonates, 010-C18 alkylethersulfates with 1-5 ethoxy units and 010-C18 alkylsulfates.

Cleaning compositions may also contain non-ionic surfactants -which may be employed also in combinations of more than one other surfactant.

Non-limiting examples of non-ionic surfactants -which may be employed also in combinations of more than one other surfactant -include: C8-C18 alkyl ethoxylates, such as, NEODOLO nonionic surfactants from Shell; ethylenoxide/propylenoxide block alkoxylates as PLURONICO from BASF; C14-022 mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxylates, BAEx, wherein x is from 1 to 30, as discussed in US 6,153,577, US 6,020,303 and US 6,093,856; alkylpolysaccharides as discussed in U.S. 4,565,647 Llenado, issued January 26, 1986; specifically alkylpolyglycosides as discussed in US 4,483,780 and US 4,483,779; polyhydroxy fatty acid amides as discussed in US 5,332,528; and ether capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants as discussed in US 6,482,994 and WO 01/42408.

Preferred examples of non-ionic surfactants are in particular alkoxylated alcohols and alkoxylated fatty alcohols, di-and multiblock copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide and reaction products of sorbitan with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, furthermore alkylphenol ethoxylates, alkyl glycosides, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides (glucamides). Examples of (additional) amphoteric surfactants are so-called amine oxides.

Preferred examples of alkoxylated alcohols and alkoxylated fatty alcohols are, for example, compounds of the general formula (A) 2 0 R 0 ° -+" 3 rr R [formula (A)] in which the variables are defined as follows: R1 is selected from linear C1-C10-alkyl, preferably ethyl and particularly preferably methyl, R2 is selected from C8-C22-alkyl, for example n-C8H17, n-C10H21, n-C12H25, n-C14H29, nC16H33 or n-C18H37, R3 is selected from C1-C10-alkyl, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-bu-tyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, neopentyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, isoamyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl or isodecyl, m and n are in the range from zero to 300, where the sum of n and m is at least one. Prefera-bly, m is in the range from 1 to 100 and n is in the range from 0 to 30.

Here, compounds of the general formula (A) may be block copolymers or random copolymers, preference being given to block copolymers.

Other preferred examples of alkoxylated alcohols and alkoxylated fatty alcohols are, for example, compounds of the general formula (B)

R

4 0 a 0 b 0+11 -" 0 R [formula (B)] in which the variables are defined as follows: R1 is identical or different and selected from linear C1-C4-alkyl, preferably identical in each case and ethyl and particularly preferably methyl, R4 is selected from C6-C20-alkyl, in particular n-C8H17, n-C10H21, n-C12H25, n-C14H29, nC16H33, n-C18H37, a is a number in the range from zero to 6, preferably 1 to 6, b is a number in the range from zero to 20, preferably 4 to 20, d is a number in the range from 4 to 25.

Preferably, at least one of a and b is greater than zero.

Here, compounds of the general formula (B) may be block copolymers or random copolymers, preference being given to block copolymers.

Further suitable non-ionic surfactants are selected from di-and multiblock copolymers, com- posed of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Further suitable non-ionic surfactants are se-lected from ethoxylated or propoxylated sorbitan esters. Alkylphenol ethoxylates or alkyl poly-glycosides or polyhydroxy fatty acid amides (glucamides) are likewise suitable. An overview of suitable further non-ionic surfactants can be found in EPA 0 851 023 and in DE-A 198 19 187. Mixtures of two or more different non-ionic surfactants may of course also be present.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, non-ionic surfactants are selected from C12/14 and C16/18 fatty alkoholalkoxylates, C13/15 oxoalkoholalkoxylates, C13-alkoholalkoxylates, and 2-propylheptylalkoholalkoxylates, each of them with 3 -15 ethoxy units, preferably 5-10 ethoxy units, or with 1-3 propoxy-and 2-15 ethoxy units.

Cleaning compositions may also contain amphoteric surfactants -which may be employed also in combinations of more than one other surfactant.

Non-limiting examples of amphoteric surfactants -which may be employed also in combinations of more than one other surfactant -include: water-soluble amine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group con- sisting of alkyl moieties and hydroxyalkyl moieties containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon at-oms; and water-soluble sulfoxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and a moiety selected from the group consisting of alkyl moieties and hydroxyalkyl moieties of from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms. See WO 01/32816, US 4,681,704, and US 4,133,779. Suitable surfactants include thus so-called amine oxides, such as lauryl dimethyl amine oxide ("lauramine oxide").

Preferred examples of amphoteric surfactants are amine oxides. Preferred amine oxides are alkyl dimethyl amine oxides or alkyl amido propyl dimethyl amine oxides, more preferably alkyl di-methyl amine oxides and especially coco dimethyl amino oxides. Amine oxides may have a linear or mid-branched alkyl moiety. Typical linear amine oxides include water-soluble amine ox-ides containing one R1 = C8-18 alkyl moiety and two R2 and R3 moieties selected from the group consisting of C1-03 alkyl groups and C1-03 hydroxyalkyl groups. Preferably, the amine oxide is characterized by the formula R1-N(R2)(R3)-0 wherein R1 is a C8-18 alkyl and R2 and R3 are selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl and 3-hydroxypropyl. The linear amine oxide surfactants in particular may include linear C10-C18 alkyl dimethyl amine oxides and linear C8-C12 alkoxy ethyl dihydroxy ethyl amine oxides. Preferred amine oxides include linear C10, linear C10-C12, and linear C12-C14 alkyl dimethyl amine oxides. As used herein "mid-branched" means that the amine oxide has one alkyl moiety having n1 carbon atoms with one alkyl branch on the alkyl moiety having n2 carbon atoms. The alkyl branch is located on the al-pha carbon from the nitrogen on the alkyl moiety. This type of branching for the amine oxide is also known in the art as an internal amine oxide. The total sum of n1 and n2 is from 10 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from 12 to 20, and more preferably from 10 to 16. The number of carbon atoms for the one alkyl moiety (n1) should be approximately the same number of carbon atoms as the one alkyl branch (n2) such that the one alkyl moiety and the one alkyl branch are symmetric. As used herein "symmetric" means that (n1-n2) is less than or equal to 5, preferably 4, most preferably from 0 to 4 carbon atoms in at least 50 wt. %, more preferably at least 75 wt. % to 100 wt. % of the mid-branched amine oxides for use herein. The amine oxide further comprises two moieties, independently selected from a C1-C3 alkyl, a C1-C3 hydroxyalkyl group, or a polyethylene oxide group containing an average of from about 1 to about 3 ethylene oxide groups. Preferably the two moieties are selected from a C1-03 alkyl, more preferably both are selected as a C1 alkyl.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, amphoteric surfactants are selected from C8-C18 alkyl-dimethyl aminoxides and C8-C18 alkyl-di(hydroxyethyl)aminoxide.

Cleaning compositions may also contain zwitterionic surfactants -which may be employed also in combinations of more than one other surfactant.

Suitable zwitterionic surfactants include betaines, such as alkyl betaines, alkylamidobetaine, amidazoliniumbetaine, sulfobetaine (INCI Sultaines) as well as the phosphobetaines. Examples of suitable betaines and sulfobetaines are the following (designated in accordance with INCI): Almond amidopropyl of betaines, Apricotamidopropyl betaines, Avocadamidopropyl of betaines, Babassuamidopropyl of betaines, Behenamidopropyl betaines, Behenyl of betaines, Canol ami-dopropyl betaines, Capryl/Capramidopropyl betaines, Carnitine, Cetyl of betaines, Cocamidoethyl of betaines, Cocamidopropyl betaines, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Coco betaines, Coco Hydroxysultaine, Coco/Oleam idopropyl betaines, Coco Sultaine, Decyl of betaines, Dihydroxyethyl Oleyl Glycinate, Dihydroxyethyl Soy Glycinate, Dihydroxyethyl Stearyl Glycinate, Dihydroxyethyl Tallow Glycinate, Dimethicone Propyl of PG-betaines, Erucamidopropyl Hy- droxysultaine, Hydrogenated Tallow of betaines, lsostearamid-opropyl betaines, Lauramidopropyl betaines, Lauryl of betaines, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Lauryl Sultaine, Milkamidopropyl betaines, Minkamidopropyl of betaines, Myristamidopropyl betaines, Myristyl of betaines, Oleamidopropyl betaines, Oleamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, °leyl of betaines, Olivamidopropyl of beta- ines, Palmamidopropyl betaines, Palmitamidopropyl betaines, Palmitoyl Carnitine, Palm Ker- nelamidopropyl betaines, Polytetrafluoroethylene Acetoxypropyl of betaines, Ricinoleam idopropyl betaines, Sesamidopropyl betaines, Soyamidopropyl betaines, Stearamidopropyl betaines, Stearyl of betaines, Tallowamidopropyl betaines, Tallowamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Tallow of betaines, Tallow Dihydroxyethyl of betaines, Undecylenamidopropyl betaines and Wheat Ger-mamidopropyl betaines.

Preferred betaines are, for example, C12-C18-alkylbetaines and sulfobetaines. The zwitterionic surfactant preferably is a betaine surfactant, more preferable a Cocoamidopropylbetaine surfactant.

Non-limiting examples of cationic surfactants -which may be employed also in combinations of more than one other surfactant -include: the quaternary ammonium surfactants, which can have up to 26 carbon atoms include: alkoxylated quaternary ammonium (AQA) surfactants as discussed in US 6,136,769; dimethyl hydroxyethyl quaternary ammonium as discussed in US 6,004,922; dimethyl hydroxyethyl lauryl ammonium chloride; polyamine cationic surfactants as discussed in WO 98/35002, WO 98/35003, WO 98/35004, WO 98/35005, and WO 98/35006; cationic ester surfactants as discussed in US patents Nos. 4,228,042, 4,239,660 4,260,529 and US 6,022,844; and amino surfactants as discussed in US 6,221,825 and WO 00/47708, specifically amido propyldimethyl amine (APA).

Compositions according to the invention may comprise at least one builder. In the context of the present invention, no distinction will be made between builders and such components else-where called "co-builders". Examples of builders are complexing agents, hereinafter also referred to as complexing agents, ion exchange compounds, and precipitating agents. Builders are selected from citrate, phosphates, silicates, carbonates, phosphonates, amino carboxylates and polycarboxylates.

In the context of the present invention, the term citrate includes the mono-and the dialkali metal salts and in particular the mono-and preferably the trisodium salt of citric acid, ammonium or substituted ammonium salts of citric acid as well as citric acid. Citrate can be used as the anhydrous compound or as the hydrate, for example as sodium citrate dihydrate. Quantities of citrate are calculated referring to anhydrous trisodium citrate.

The term phosphate includes sodium metaphosphate, sodium orthophosphate, sodium hy-drogenphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate and polyphosphates such as sodium tripolyphosphate. Preferably, however, the composition according to the invention is free from phosphates and polyphosphates, with hydrogenphosphates being subsumed, for example free from trisodium phosphate, pentasodium tripolyphosphate and hexasodium metaphosphate ("phosphate-free"). In connection with phosphates and polyphosphates, "free from" should be understood within the context of the present invention as meaning that the content of phosphate and poly-phosphate is in total in the range from 10 ppm to 0.2% by weight of the respective composition, determined by gravimetry.

The term carbonates includes alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal hydrogen carbonates, preferred are the sodium salts. Particularly preferred is Na2CO3.

Examples of phosphonates are hydroxyalkanephosphonates and aminoalkane-phosphonates.

Among the hydroxyalkanephosphonates, the 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate (HEDP) is of particular importance as builder. It is preferably used as sodium salt, the disodium salt being neutral and the tetrasodium salt being alkaline (pH 9). Suitable aminoalkanephosphonates are preferably ethylene diamine-'tetra-'methylene-'phosphonate (EDTMP), diethylenetriamine- penta-methylene-phosphonate (DTPMP), and also their higher homologues. They are prefera-bly used in the form of the neutrally reacting sodium salts, e.g. as hexasodium salt of EDTMP or as hepta-and octa-sodium salts of DTPMP.

Examples of amino carboxylates and polycarboxylates are nitrilotriacetates, ethylene diamine tetraacetate, diethylene triamine pentaacetate, triethylene tetraamine hexaacetate, propylene diamines tetraacetic acid, ethanol-diglycines, methylglycine diacetate, and glutamine diacetate.

The term amino carboxylates and polycarboxylates also include their respective non-substituted or substituted ammonium salts and the alkali metal salts such as the sodium salts, in particular of the respective fully neutralized compound.

Silicates in the context of the present invention include in particular sodium disilicate and so-dium metasilicate, alumosilicates such as for example zeolites and sheet silicates, in particular those of the formula a-Na2Si205, 3-Na2Si2O5, and o-Na2Si205.

Compositions according to the invention may contain one or more builder selected from materials not being mentioned above. Examples of builders are a-hydroxypropionic acid and oxidized starch.

In one embodiment of the present invention, builder is selected from polycarboxylates. The term "polycarboxylates" includes non-polymeric polycarboxylates such as succinic acid, C2-C16-alkyl disuccinates, C2-C16-alkenyl disuccinates, ethylene diamine N,N'-disuccinic acid, tartaric acid diacetate, alkali metal malonates, tartaric acid monoacetate, propanetricarboxylic acid, butanetetracarboxylic acid and cyclopentanetetracarboxylic acid.

Oligomeric or polymeric polycarboxylates are for example polyaspartic acid or in particular alkali metal salts of (meth)acrylic acid homopolymers or (meth)acrylic acid copolymers.

Suitable co-monomers are monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as maleic acid, fumaric acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid and citraconic acid. A suitable polymer is in particular polyacrylic acid, which preferably has a weight-average molecular weight Mw in the range from 2000 to 40 000 g/mol, preferably 2000 to 10 000 g/mol, in particular 3000 to 8000 g/mol. Further suitable copolymeric polycarboxylates are in particular those of acrylic acid with methacrylic acid and of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with maleic acid and/or fumaric acid.

It is also possible to use copolymers of at least one monomer from the group consisting of monoethylenically unsaturated C3-C10-mono-or C4-C10-dicarboxylic acids or anhydrides thereof, such as maleic acid, maleic anhydride, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid and citraconic acid, with at least one hydrophilically or hydrophobically modified co-monomer as listed below.

Suitable hydrophobic co-monomers are, for example, isobutene, diisobutene, butene, pentene, hexene and styrene, olefins with ten or more carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, such as, for example, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 1-octadecene, 1-eicosene, 1-docosene, 1-tetracosene and 1-hexacosene, C22-a-olefin, a mixture of C20-C24-a-olefins and pol-yisobutene having on average 12 to 100 carbon atoms per molecule.

Suitable hydrophilic co-monomers are monomers with sulfonate or phosphonate groups, and also non-ionic monomers with hydroxyl function or alkylene oxide groups. By way of example, mention may be made of: allyl alcohol, isoprenol, methoxypolyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, methoxypolypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, methoxypolybutylene glycol (meth)acrylate, meth-oxypoly(propylene oxide-co-ethylene oxide) (meth)acrylate, ethoxypolyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, ethoxypolypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, ethoxypolybutylene glycol (meth)acrylate and ethoxypoly(propylene oxide-co-ethylene oxide) (meth)acrylate. Polyalkylene glycols here can comprise 3 to 50, in particular 5 to 40 and especially 10 to 30 alkylene oxide units per molecule.

Particularly preferred sulfonic-acid-group-containing monomers here are 1-acrylamido-1-pro- panesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-propanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 2-methacrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 3-methacrylamido-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid, allylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonic acid, allyloxybenzenesulfonic acid, methallyloxybenzenesulfonic acid, 2-hydroxy-3-(2-propenyloxy)propanesulfonic acid, 2-methyl-2-pro-pene-1-sulfonic acid, styrenesulfonic acid, vinylsulfonic acid, 3-sulfopropyl acrylate, 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate, 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate, sulfomethacrylamide, sulfomethylmethacrylamide, and salts of said acids, such as sodium, potassium or ammonium salts thereof.

Particularly preferred phosphonate-group-containing monomers are vinylphosphonic acid and its salts.

Moreover, amphoteric polymers can also be used as builders.

Compositions according to the invention can comprise, for example, in the range from in total 0.1 to 70% by weight, preferably 10 to 50% by weight, preferably up to 20% by weight, of builder(s), especially in the case of solid formulations. Liquid formulations according to the invention preferably comprise in the range of from 0.1 to 8% by weight of builder.

Formulations according to the invention can comprise one or more alkali carriers. Alkali carriers ensure, for example, a pH of at least 9 if an alkaline pH is desired. Of suitability are, for example, the alkali metal carbonates, the alkali metal hydrogen carbonates, and alkali metal metasilicates mentioned above, and, additionally, alkali metal hydroxides. A preferred alkali metal is in each case potassium, particular preference being given to sodium. In one embodiment of the present invention, a pH >7 is adjusted by using amines, preferably alkanolamines, more preferably triethanolamine.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the laundry formulation or composition according to the invention comprises additionally at least one enzyme.

Useful enzymes are, for example, one or more hydrolases selected from lipases, amylases, pro-teases, cellulases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, pectinases, lactases and peroxidases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types.

In one embodiment, the composition according to the present invention comprises additionally 5 at least one enzyme.

Preferably, the at least one enzyme is a detergent enzyme.

In one embodiment, the enzyme is classified as an oxidoreductase (EC 1), a transferase (EC 2), a hydrolase (EC 3), a lyase (EC 4), an isomerase (EC 5), or a ligase (EC 6) (the EC-numbering is according to Enzyme Nomenclature, Recommendations (1992) of the Nomenclature Commit-tee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology including its supplements published 1993-1999). Preferably, the enzyme is a hydrolase (EC 3).

In a preferred embodiment, the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of proteases, am-ylases, lipases, cellulases, mannanases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, pectinases, lactases, peroxidases, xylanases, cutinases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, beta-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases, laccases, nucleases, DNase, phosphodiesterases, phytases, carbohydrases, galactanases, xanthanases, xyloglucanases, oxidoreductase, perhydrolases, aminopeptidase, asparaginase, carbohydrase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, chitinase, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, glucoamylase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, invertase, ribonucle- ase, transglutaminase, and dispersins, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types. More preferably, the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, mannanases, xylanases, DNases, dispersins, pectinases, oxidoreductases, and cutinases, and combinations of at least two of the foregoing types. Most preferably, the en-zyme is a protease, preferably, a serine protease, more preferably, a subtilisin protease.

Such enzyme(s) can be incorporated into the composition at levels sufficient to provide an effective amount for achieving a beneficial effect, preferably for primary washing effects and/or secondary washing effects, like antigreying or antipilling effects (e.g., in case of cellulases). Preferably, the enzyme is present in the composition at levels from about 0.00001% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.00001% to about 2%, more preferably from about 0.0001% to about 1%, or even more preferably from about 0.001% to about 0.5% enzyme protein by weight of the composition.

Preferably, the enzyme-containing composition further comprises an enzyme stabilizing system. Preferably, the enzyme-containing composition described herein comprises from about 0.001% to about 10%, from about 0.005% to about 8%, or from about 0.01% to about 6%, by weight of the composition, of an enzyme stabilizing system. The enzyme stabilizing system can be any stabilizing system which is compatible with the enzyme.

Preferably, the enzyme stabilizing system comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polyols (preferably, 1,3-propanediol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, 1,2-propane-diol, or sorbitol), salts (preferably, CaCl2, MgCl2, or NaCI), short chain (preferably, C1-C6) carboxylic acids (preferably, formic acid, formate (preferably, sodium formate), acetic acid, acetate, or lactate), borate, boric acid, boronic acids (preferably, 4-formyl phenylboronic acid (4-FPBA)), peptide aldehydes, peptide acetals, and peptide aldehyde hydrosulfite adducts. Preferably, the enzyme stabilizing system comprises a combination of at least two of the compounds selected from the group consisting of salts, polyols, and short chain carboxylic acids and preferably one or more of the compounds selected from the group consisting of borate, boric acid, boronic acids (preferably, 4-formyl phenylboronic acid (4-FPBA)), peptide aldehydes, peptide acetals, and peptide aldehyde hydrosulfite adducts. In particular, if proteases are present in the composition, protease inhibitors may be added, preferably selected from borate, boric acid, boronic acids (preferably, 4-FPBA), peptide aldehydes (preferably, peptide aldehydes like Z-VAL-H or Z-GAY-H), peptide acetals, and peptide aldehyde hydrosulfite adducts. Compositions according to the invention may comprise one or more bleaching agent (bleaches).

Preferred bleaches are selected from sodium perborate, anhydrous or, for example, as the monohydrate or as the tetrahydrate or so-called dihydrate, sodium percarbonate, anhydrous or, for example, as the monohydrate, and sodium persulfate, where the term "persulfate" in each case includes the salt of the peracid H2S05 and also the peroxodisulfate.

In this connection, the alkali metal salts can in each case also be alkali metal hydrogen carbonate, alkali metal hydrogen perborate and alkali metal hydrogen persulfate. However, the di-alkali metal salts are preferred in each case.

Formulations according to the invention can comprise one or more bleach catalysts. Bleach catalysts can be selected from oxaziridinium-based bleach catalysts, bleach-boosting transition metal salts or transition metal complexes such as, for example, manganese-, iron-, cobalt-, ruthenium-or molybdenum-salen complexes or carbonyl complexes. Manganese, iron, cobalt, ru- thenium, molybdenum, titanium, vanadium and copper complexes with nitrogen-containing tri-pod ligands and also cobalt-, iron-, copper-and ruthenium-amine complexes can also be used as bleach catalysts.

Formulations according to the invention can comprise one or more bleach activators, for exam-ple tetraacetyl ethylene diamine, tetraacetylmethylene diamine, tetrracetylglycoluril, tetraacetylhexylene diamine, acylated phenolsulfonates such as for example n-nonanoyl-or isononanoyloxybenzene sulfonates, N-methylmorpholinium-acetonitrile salts ("MMA salts"), trimethylammonium acetonitrile salts, N-acylimides such as, for example, N-nonanoylsuccinimide, 1,5-diacety1-2,2-dioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine ("DADHT") or nitrile quats (trimethylammonium acetonitrile salts).

Formulations according to the invention can comprise one or more corrosion inhibitors. In the present case, this is to be understood as including those compounds which inhibit the corrosion of metal. Examples of suitable corrosion inhibitors are triazoles, in particular benzotriazoles, bisbenzotriazoles, aminotriazoles, alkylaminotriazoles, also phenol derivatives such as, for ex-ample, hydroquinone, pyrocatechol, hydroxy-hydroquinone, gallic acid, phloroglucinol or pyrogallol.

In one embodiment of the present invention, formulations according to the invention comprise in total in the range from 0.1 to 1.5% by weight of corrosion inhibitor.

Formulations according to the invention may also comprise further cleaning polymers and/or soil release polymers.

The additional cleaning polymers may include, without limitation, "multifunctional polyethylene imines" (for example BASF's Sokalan® HP20) and/or "multifunctional diamines" (for example BASF's Sokalan® HP96) and also those disclosed and claimed in W02021/254828, W02022/136408A1, W02022/136409A1, W02021/165468, W02023/021103, W02023/021104, W02023/021105 and W02023/117494. Such multifunctional polyethylene imines are typically ethoxylated polyethylene imines with a weight-average molecular weight Mw in the range from 3000 to 250000, preferably 5000 to 200000, more preferably 8000 to 100000, more preferably 8000 to 50000, more preferably 10000 to 30000, and most preferably 10000 to 20000 g/mol. Suitable multifunctional polyethylene imines have 80 wt. % to 99 wt. %, preferably 85 wt. % to 99 wt. %, more preferably 90 wt. % to 98 wt. %, most preferably 93 wt. % to 97 wt. % or 94 wt. c/o to 96 wt. % ethylene oxide side chains, based on the total weight of the materials. Ethoxylated polyethylene imines are typically based on a polyethylene imine core and a polyethylene oxide shell. Suitable polyethylene imine core molecules are polyethylene imines with a weight-average molecular weight Mw in the range of 500 to 5000 g/mol. Preferably employed is a mo-lecular weight from 500 to 1000 g/mol, even more preferred is a Mw of 600 to 800 g/mol. The ethoxylated polymer then has on average 5 to 50, preferably 10 to 35 and even more preferably 20 to 35 ethylene oxide (EO) units per NH-functional group.

Suitable multifunctional diamines are typically ethoxylated C2 to C12 alkylene diamines, preferably hexamethylene diamine, which are further quaternized and optionally sulfated. Typical mul-tifunctional diamines have a weight-average molecular weight Mw in the range from 2000 to 10000, more preferably 3000 to 8000, and most preferably 4000 to 6000 g/mol. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, ethoxylated hexamethylene diamine, furthermore quaternized and sulfated, may be employed, which contains on average 10 to 50, preferably 15 to 40 and even more preferably 20 to 30 ethylene oxide (EO) groups per NH-functional group, and which pref-erably bears two cationic ammonium groups and two anionic sulfate groups.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning compositions may contain at least one multifunctional polyethylene imine and/or at least one multifunctional diamine, specifically any of the claimed polymers of Sokalan® HP20, Sokalan® HP96, and/or any of those disclosed and claimed in W02021/254828, W02022/136408A1, W02022/136409A1, W02021/165468, W02023/021103, W02023/021104, W02023/021105 and/or W02023/117494, to improve the cleaning performance, such as preferably improve the stain removal ability, especially the primary detergency of particulate stains on polyester fabrics of laundry detergents. The multifunctional polyethylene imines or multifunctional diamines or mixtures thereof according to the descriptions above may be added to the laundry detergents and cleaning composi-tions in amounts of generally from 0.05 to 15 wt. %, preferably from 0.1 to 10 wt. % and more preferably from 0.25 to 5 wt. % and even as low as up to 2 wt.%, based on the particular overall composition, including other components and water and/or solvents.

Thus, one aspect of the present invention is a laundry detergent composition, in particular a liquid laundry detergent, comprising (i) at least one inventive compound and (ii) at least one com- pound selected from multifunctional polyethylene imines and multifunctional diamines and mix-tures thereof.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of the at least one inventive compound and (ii) the at least one compound selected from multifunctional polyethylene imines and multi-functional diamines and mixtures thereof, is from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably from 5:1 to 1:5 and more preferably from 3:1 to 1:3.

Cleaning compositions, fabric and home care products and specifically the laundry formulations comprising the inventive compound may also comprise at least one antimicrobial agent (named also "preservative").

An antimicrobial agent is a chemical compound that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth or reproduction. Microorganisms can be bacteria, yeasts or molds. A preservative is an antimi-crobial agent which may be added to aqueous products and compositions to maintain the original performance, characteristics and integrity of the products and compositions by killing contaminating microorganisms or inhibiting their growth.

The composition/formulation may contain one or more antimicrobial agents and/or preservatives as listed in patent W02021/115912 Al ("Formulations comprising a hydrophobically modified polyethyleneimine and one or more enzymes") on pages 35 to 39.

Especially of interest for the cleaning compositions and fabric and home care products and specifically in the laundry formulations are any of the following antimicrobial agents and/or preservatives: 4,4'-dichloro 2-hydroxydiphenyl ether (further names: 5-chloro-2-(4-chlorophenoxy) phenol, Di- closan, DCPP), Tinosan® HP 100 (commercial product of BASF SE containing 30% of the antimicrobial active 4,4'-dichoro 2-hydroxydiphenylether); 2-Phenoxyethanol (further names. Phenoxyethanol, Methylphenylglycol, Phenoxetyethanol, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, 2-(phenoxy) ethanol, 2-phenoxy-1-ethanol); 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (further names: 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, Bronopol); Glutaraldehyde (further names: 1-5-pentandial, pentane-1,5-dial, glutaral, glutar-dialdehyde); Glyoxal (further names: ethandial, oxylaldehyde, 1,2-ethandial); 2-butyl-benzo[d]isothiazol-3-one ("BBIT"); 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol3-one ("MIT""); 2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one ("OIT"); 5-Chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one ("CIT" or "CMIT"); Mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one ("CMIT") and 2-methyl-2H-isothia-zol-3-one ("MIT) (Mixture of CMIT/MIT); 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one ("BIT"); Hexa-2,4-dienoic acid (trivial name "sorbic acid") and its salts, e.g., calcium sorb-ate, sodium sorbate; potassium (E,E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate (Potassium Sorbate); Lactic acid and its salts; L-(+)-lactic acid; especially sodium lactate; Benzoic acid and salts of benzoic acid, e.g., sodium benzoate, ammonium benzo-ate, calcium benzoate, magnesium benzoate, MEA-benzoate, potassium benzoate; Sali-cylic acid and its salts, e.g., calcium salicylate, magnesium salicylate, MEA salicylate, sodium salicylate, potassium salicylate, TEA salicylate; Benzalkonium chloride, benzalkonium bromide, benzalkonium saccharinate; Didecyldimethylammonium chloride ("DDAC"); N-(3-aminopropyI)-N-dodecylpropane-1,3-diamine ("Diamine"); Peracetic acid; Hydrogen peroxide.

At least one antimicrobial agent or preservative may be added to the inventive composition in a concentration of 0.001 to 10% relative to the total weight of the composition.

Preferably, the composition contains 2-phenoxyethanol in a concentration of 0.1 to 2% or 4,4'-dichloro 2-hydroxydiphenyl ether (DCPP) in a concentration of 0.005 to 0.6%.

The invention also encompasses a method of preserving an aqueous compo-sition according to the invention against microbial contamination or growth, which method comprises addition of at least one antimicrobial agent or preservative, preferably 2-phenoxyethanol.

The invention also encompasses a method of providing an antimicrobial effect on textiles after treatment with a solid laundry detergent (e.g. powders, granu-lates, capsules, tablets, bars etc.), a liquid laundry detergent, a softener or an af-ter-rinse containing 4,4'-dichloro 2-hydroxydiphenyl ether (DCPP).

Formulations according to the invention may also comprise water and/or additional organic solvents, e.g., ethanol or propylene glycol.

Further optional ingredients may be but are not limited to viscosity modifiers, cationic surfac-tants, foam boosting or foam reducing agents, perfumes, dyes, optical brighteners, and dye transfer inhibiting agents.

Dish wash compositions Another aspect of the present invention is also a dish wash composition, comprising at least one inventive compound(s) as described above.

Thus, an aspect of the present invention is also the use of the inventive compound(s) as described above, in dish wash applications, such as manual or automated dish wash applications.

Dish wash compositions according to the invention can be in the form of a liquid, semi-liquid, cream, lotion, gel, or solid composition, solid embodiments encompassing, for example, powders and tablets. Liquid compositions are typically preferred for manual dish wash applications, whereas solid formulations and pouch formulations (where the pouches may contain also solids in addition to liquid ingredients) are typically preferred for automated dish washing compositions; however, in some areas of the world also liquid automated dish wash compositions are used and are thus of course also encompassed by the term "dish wash composition".

The dish wash compositions are intended for direct or indirect application onto dishware and metal and glass surfaces, such as drinking and other glasses, beakers, dish and cooking ware like pots and pans, and cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives and the like.

The inventive method of cleaning dishware, metal and/or glass surfaces comprises the step of applying the dish wash cleaning composition, preferably in liquid form, onto the surface, either directly or by means of a cleaning implement, i.e., in neat form. The composition is applied directly onto the surface to be treated and/or onto a cleaning device or implement such as a dish cloth, a sponge or a dish brush and the like without undergoing major dilution (immediately) prior to the application. The cleaning device or implement is preferably wet before or after the composition is delivered to it. In the method of the invention, the composition can also be applied in diluted form.

Both neat and dilute application give rise to superior cleaning performance, i.e. the formulations of the invention containing at least one inventive compound(s)exhibit excellent degreasing prop-erties. The effort of removing fat and/or oily soils from the dishware, metal and/or glass surfaces is decreased due to the presence of the inventive compound(s), even when the level of surfactant used is lower than in conventional compositions.

Preferably the composition is formulated to provide superior grease cleaning (degreasing) prop-erties, long-lasting suds and/or improved viscosity control at decreased temperature exposures; preferably at least two, more preferably all three properties are present in the inventive dish wash composition. Optional -preferably present -further benefits of the inventive manual dish wash composition include soil removal, shine, and/or hand care; more preferably at least two and most preferably all three further benefits are present in the inventive dish wash composition.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the inventive compound(s) is one component of a manual dish wash formulation that additionally comprises at least one surfactant, preferably at least one anionic surfactant.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the inventive compound(s)is one component of a manual dish wash formulation that additionally comprises at least one anionic surfactant and at least one other surfactant, preferably selected from amphoteric surfactants and/or zwitterionic surfactants. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the manual dish wash formulations contain at least one amphoteric surfactant, preferably an amine oxide, or at least one zwitterionic surfactant, preferably a betaine, or mixtures thereof, to aid in the foaming, detergency, and/or mildness of the detergent composition.

Examples of suitable anionic surfactants are already mentioned above for laundry compositions.

Preferred anionic surfactants for dish wash compositions are selected from C10-C15 linear alkylbenzenesulfonates, C10-C18 alkylethersulfates with 1-5 ethoxy units and C10-C18 alkyl-sulfates.

Preferably, the manual dish wash detergent formulation of the present invention comprises from at least 1 wt% to 50 wt%, preferably in the range from greater than or equal to about 3 wt% to equal to or less than about 35 wt%, more preferably in the range from greater than or equal to 5 wt% to less than or equal to 30 wt%, and most preferably in the range from greater than or equal to 5 wt% to less than or equal to 20 wt% of one or more anionic surfactants as described above, based on the particular overall composition, including other components and water and/or solvents.

Dish wash compositions according to the invention may comprise at least one amphoteric sur20 factant.

Examples of suitable amphoteric surfactants for dish wash compositions are already mentioned above for laundry compositions.

Preferred amphoteric surfactants for dish wash compositions are selected from C8-C18 alkyldimethyl aminoxides and C8-C18 alkyl-di(hydroxyethyl)aminoxide.

The manual dish wash detergent composition of the invention preferably comprises from 1 wt% to 15 wt%, preferably from 2 wt% to 12 wt%, more preferably from 3 wt% to 10 wt% of the composition of an amphoteric surfactant, preferably an amine oxide surfactant. Preferably the composition of the invention comprises a mixture of the anionic surfactants and alkyl dimethyl amine oxides in a weight ratio of less than about 10:1, more preferably less than about 8:1, more pref-erably from about 5:1 to about 2:1.

Addition of the amphoteric surfactant provides good foaming properties in the dish wash composition.

Dish wash compositions according to the invention may comprise at least one zwitterionic sur35 factant.

Examples of suitable zwitterionic surfactants for dish wash compositions are already mentioned above for laundry compositions.

Preferred zwitterionic surfactants for dish wash compositions are selected from betaine surfactants, more preferable from Cocoamidopropylbetaine surfactants.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the zwitterionic surfactant is Cocami-dopropylbetaine.

The manual dish wash detergent composition of the invention optionally comprises from 1 wt% to 15 wt%, preferably from 2 wt% to 12 wt%, more preferably from 3 wt% to 10 wt% of the composition of a zwitterionic surfactant, preferably a betaine surfactant.

Dish wash compositions according to the invention may comprise at least one cationic surfactant.

Examples of suitable cationic surfactants for dish wash compositions are already mentioned above for laundry compositions.

Cationic surfactants, when present in the composition, are present in an effective amount, more preferably from 0.1 wt% to 5 wt%, preferably 0.2 wt% to 2 wt% of the composition.

Dish wash compositions according to the invention may comprise at least one non-ionic surfactant.

Examples of suitable non-ionic surfactants for dish wash compositions are already mentioned above for laundry compositions.

Preferred non-ionic surfactants are the condensation products of Guerbet alcohols with from 2 to 18 moles, preferably 2 to 15, more preferably 5-12 of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Other preferred non-ionic surfactants for use herein include fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkylpolyglucosides and fatty acid glucamides.

The manual hand dish detergent composition of the present invention may comprise from 0.1 wt% to 10 wt%, preferably from 0.3 wt% to 5 wt%, more preferably from 0.4 wt% to 2 wt% of the composition, of a linear or branched 010 alkoxylated non-ionic surfactant having an average degree of alkoxylation of from 2 to 6, preferably from 3 to 5. Preferably, the linear or branched 010 alkoxylated non-ionic surfactant is a branched C10 ethoxylated non-ionic surfactant having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 2 to 6, preferably of from 3 to 5. Preferably, the composi- tion comprises from 60 wt% to 100 wt%, preferably from 80 wt% to 100 wt%, more preferably 100 wt% of the total linear or branched C10 alkoxylated non-ionic surfactant of the branched 010 ethoxylated non-ionic surfactant. The linear or branched 010 alkoxylated non-ionic surfactant preferably is a 2-propylheptyl ethoxylated non-ionic surfactant having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 5. A suitable 2-propylheptyl ethoxylated non-ionic surfactant having an av-erage degree of ethoxylation of 4 is Lutensol® XP40, commercially available from BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. The use of a 2-propylheptyl ethoxylated non-ionic surfactant having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 5 leads to improved foam levels and long-lasting suds. Thus, one aspect of the present invention is a manual dish wash detergent composition, in particular a liquid manual dish wash detergent composition, comprising (i) at least one inventive es-teramine and/or its salt, and (ii) at least one further 2-propylheptyl ethoxylated non-ionic surfactant having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 5.

Dish wash compositions according to the invention may comprise at least one hydrotrope in an effective amount, to ensure the compatibility of the liquid manual dish wash detergent composi-tions with water.

Suitable hydrotropes for use herein include anionic hydrotropes, particularly sodium, potassium, and ammonium xylene sulfonate, sodium, potassium and ammonium toluene sulfonate, sodium, potassium, and ammonium cumene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof, and related compounds, as disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,915,903.

The liquid manual dish wash detergent compositions of the present invention typically comprise from 0.1 wt% to 15 wt% of the total liquid detergent composition of a hydrotrope, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 1 wt% to 10 wt%, most preferably from 2 wt% to 5 wt% of the total liquid manual dish wash composition.

Dish wash compositions according to the invention may comprise at least one organic solvent.

Examples of organic solvents are C4-C14 ethers and diethers, glycols, alkoxylated glycols, C6-C16 glycol ethers, alkoxylated aromatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, aliphatic branched alcohols, alkoxylated aliphatic branched alcohols, alkoxylated linear C1-05 alcohols, linear Cl-05 alcohols, amines, C8-C14 alkyl and cycloalkyl hydrocarbons and halohydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof. When present, the liquid dish wash compositions will contain from 0.01 wt% to 20 wt%, preferably from 0.5 wt% to 15 wt%, more preferably from 1 wt% to 10 wt%, most preferably from 1 wt% to 5 wt% of the liquid detergent composition of a solvent. These solvents may be used in conjunction with an aqueous liquid carrier, such as water, or they may be used without any aqueous liquid carrier being present. At higher solvent systems, the absolute values of the viscosity may drop but there is a local maximum point in the viscosity profile.

The dish wash compositions herein may further comprise from 30 wt% to 90 wt% of an aqueous liquid carrier, comprising water, in which the other essential and optional ingredients are dissolved, dispersed or suspended. More preferably the compositions of the present invention comprise from 45 wt% to 85 wt%, even more preferably from 60 wt% to 80 wt% of the aqueous liquid carrier. The aqueous liquid carrier, however, may contain other materials which are liquid, or which dissolve in the liquid carrier, at room temperature (25 °C) and which may also serve some other function besides that of an inert filler.

Dish wash compositions according to the invention may comprise at least one electrolyte. Suitable electrolytes are preferably selected from inorganic salts, even more preferably selected from monovalent salts, most preferably sodium chloride.

The liquid manual dish wash compositions according to the invention may comprise from 0.1 wt% to 5 wt%, preferably from 0.2 wt% to 2 wt% of the composition of an electrolyte.

Manual dish wash formulations comprising the inventive esteramine and/or salt(s) thereof may also comprise at least one antimicrobial agent.

Examples of suitable antimicrobial agents for dish wash compositions are already mentioned above for laundry compositions.

The antimicrobial agent may be added to the inventive hand dish wash compositon in a concentration of 0.0001 wt% to 10 wt% relative to the total weight of composition. Preferably, the formu-lation contains 2-phenoxyethanol in a concentration of 0.01 wt% to 5 wt%, more preferably 0.1 wt% to 2 wt% and/or 4,4'-dichloro 2-hydroxydiphenyl ether in a concentration of 0.001 wt% to 1 wt%, more preferably 0.002 wt% to 0.6 wt% (in all cases relative to the total weight of the composition).

Further additional ingredients are such as but not limited to conditioning polymers, cleaning polymers, surface modifying polymers, soil flocculating polymers, rheology modifying polymers, enzymes, structurants, builders, chelating agents, cyclic diamines, emollients, humectants, skin rejuvenating actives, carboxylic acids, scrubbing particles, bleach and bleach activators, perfumes, malodor control agents, pigments, dyes, opacifiers, beads, pearlescent particles, micro- capsules, antibacterial agents, pH adjusters including NaOH and alkanolamines such as mono-ethanolamines and buffering means.

General cleaning compositions and formulations for Laundry The disclosed liquid formulations in this chapter may and preferably do comprise 0 to 2 % 2-phenoxyethanol, preferably about 1 %, in addition to all other mentioned ingredients.

The above and below disclosed liquid formulations may and preferably do comprise 0-0,2% 4,4'-dichoro 2-hydroxydiphenylether, preferably about 0,15 %, in addition to all other mentioned ingredients. The bleach-free solid laundry compositions may comprise 0-0,2% 4,4'-dichoro 2-hydroxydiphenylethe, preferably about 0,15 %, in addition to all other mentioned ingredients.

The disclosed formulations in this chapter may and preferably do comprise one or more en-zymes selected from those disclosed herein above, more preferably a protease and/or an amylase, wherein even more preferably the protease is a protease with at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 22 of EP1921147B1 and having the amino acid substitution R101E (according to BPN' numbering) and wherein the amylase is an amylase with at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 54 of W02021032881A1, such enzyme(s) preferably being present in the formulations at levels from about 0.00001% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.00001% to about 2%, more preferably from about 0.0001% to about 1%, or even more preferably from about 0.001% to about 0.5% enzyme protein by weight of the composition.

The tables in this chapter show general cleaning compositions of certain types, which corre-spond to typical compositions correlating with typical washing conditions as typically employed in various regions and countries of the world. The at least one inventive compound may be added to such formulation(s) in suitable amounts as outlined herein.

When no inventive compound is added, a shown formulation is a "comparative formulation"; when the amount chosen is in the general range as disclosed herein and specifically within ranges disclosed herein as preferred amounts for the various ingredients and the inventive compound, the formulation is a formulation according to the invention. Ingredients (other than the inventive compound) listed with amounts including "zero%" in the mentioned range may be pre- sent but not necessarily have to be present, in both the inventive and the comparative formula-tions. Hence, each number encompassed by a given range is meant to be included in the formulations shown in this chapter, and all variations and permutations possible are likewise meant to be included.

In a preferred embodiment the inventive compound is used in a laundry detergent.

Liquid laundry detergents according to the present invention are composed of: 0,1 -5 % of at least one inventive compound 1 -50% of surfactants 0,1 -40 % of builders, cobuilders and/or chelating agents 0,1 -50 % other adjuncts water to add up 100 %.

Preferred liquid laundry detergents according to the present invention are composed of: 0,5 -2 % of at least one inventive compound -40 % of anionic surfactants selected from C10-C15-LAS and 010-018 alkyl ethersulfates containing 1-5 ethoxy-units 1,5 -10 % of nonioic surfactants selected from C10-C18-alkyl ethoxylates containing 3 -10 ethoxy-units 2 -20 % of soluble organic builders/ cobuilders selected from C10-C18 fatty acids, di-and tri-carboxylic acids, hydroxy-di-and hydroxytricaboxylic acids, aminopolycarboxylates and polycarboxylic acids 0,05 -5 % of an enzyme system containing at least one enzyme suitable for detergent use and preferably also an enzyme stabilizing system 0,5 -20 % of mono-or diols selected from ethanol, isopropanol, ethylenglycol, or propylenglyclol 0,1 -20 % other adjuncts water to add up to 100%.

Solid laundry detergents (like e.g. powders, granules or tablets) according to the present inven-tion are composed of: 0,1 -5 % of at least one inventive compound 1 -50% of surfactants 0,1 -90 % of builders, cobuilders and/or chelating agents 0-50% of fillers 0 -40% of bleach actives 0,1 -30 % of other adjuncts and/or water wherein the sum of the ingredients adds up 100 %.

Preferred solid laundry detergents according to the present invention are composed of: 0,5 -2 % of at least one inventive compound 5 -30 % of anionic surfactants selected from C10-C15-LAS, C10-C18 alkylsulfates and C10-C18 alkyl ethersulfates containing 1-5 ethoxy-units 1,5 -7,5 % of non-ionic surfactants selected from C10-C18-alkyl ethoxylates containing 3 -10 ethoxy-units -80 % of inorganic builders and fillers selected from sodium carbonate, sodium bicar-bonate, zeolites, soluble silicates, sodium sulfate 0,5 -15 % of cobuilders selected from C10-C18 fatty acids, di-and tricarboxylic acids, hy-droxydi-and hydroxytricarboxylic acids, aminopolycarboxylates and polycarboxylic acids 0,1 -5 % of an enzyme system containing at least one enzyme suitable for detergent use and preferably also an enzyme stabilizing system 0,5 -30 % of bleach actives 0,1 -20 % other adjuncts water to ad up to 100% In a preferred embodiment at least one esteramine and/or salt therof according to the present invention is used in a manual dish wash detergent.

Liquid manual dish wash detergents according to the present invention are composed of: 0,05 -10 % of at least one inventive esteramine and/or salt therof 1 -50% of surfactants 0,1 -50 % of other adjuncts water to add up 100 %.

Preferred liquid manual dish wash detergents of this present invention are composed of: 0,2 -5 % of at least one inventive esteramine and/or salt therof 5 -40 % of anionic surfactants selected from C10-C15-LAS, C10-C18 alkyl ethersulfates containing 1-5 ethoxy-units, and 010-C18 alkylsulfate 2 10 % of Cocamidopropylbetaine O -10 % of Lauramine oxide O -2 % of a non-ionic surfactant, preferably a C10-Guerbet alcohol alkoxylate O -5 % of an enzyme, preferably Amylase, and preferably also an enzyme stabilizing system 0,5 -20 % of mono-or diols selected from ethanol, isopropanol, ethylenglycol, or propylengly-clol 0,1 -20 % other adjuncts water to add up to 100% In the following tables: "Inventive Compound(s)" = at least one esteramine and/or salt thereof as described in this pre-sent invention General formula for laundry detergent compositions according to the invention: (numbers: wt.%) Ingredient Ranges of Ingredient in Liquid frame formulations Linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid 0 to 30 Coco fatty acid 1 to 12 Fatty alcohol ether sulphate 0 to 25 NaOH or mono or triethanol amine Add up to pH 7,5 to pH 9,0 Alcohol ethoxylate 3 to 10 1,2-Propylene glycol 1 to 10 Ethanol 0 to 4 Sodium citrate 0 to 8 water Up to 100 Liquid laundry frame formulations according to the invention: active (numbers: wt.% active) F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 alcohol ethoxylat 7E0 5.40 10.80 12.40 7.30 1.60 7.60 Coco fatty acid K12-18 2.40 3.10 3.20 3.20 3.50 6.40 Fatty alcohol ether sulphate 5.40 8.80 7.10 7.10 5.40 14.00 Linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid 5.50 0.00 14.50 15.50 10.70 0.00 1,2 Propandiol 6.00 3.50 8.70 8.70 1.10 7.80 Triethanolamine 0 0 0 0 0 0 Monoethanolamine 0 0 4.00 4.30 0.30 0 NaOH 2.20 1.10 0 0 0 1.00 Glycerol 0 0.80 3.00 2.80 0 0 Ethanol 2.00 0 0 0 0.38 0.39 Na citrate 3.00 2.80 3.40 2.10 7.40 5.40 Inventive Compound(s) (total) 0,1 -5 0,1 -5 0,1 -5 0,1 -5 0,1 -5 0,1 -5 polymers 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-10 0 -10 0-10 At least one enzyme (each) 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 water to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 Liquid laundry frame formulations according to the invention -continued: active (numbers: wt% ac-tive) F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 alcohol ethoxylat 7E0 3.80 0.30 13.30 8.00 5.70 20.00 9.20 29.00 Coco fatty acid K12-18 2.80 3.00 1.70 1.80 2.50 5.00 8.60 10.40 Fatty alcohol ether sulphate 2.80 4.50 3.90 4.10 0 10.00 22.20 0 Linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid 6.30 5.43 11.45 5.90 10.10 10.00 28.00 27.00 1,2 Propandiol 0.50 0 2.50 0.40 6.00 10.00 7.00 7.00 Triethanolamine 0 0 0 8.10 0 0 0 0 Monoethanolamine 0.40 1.80 0 0 0 0 8.00 7.00 NaOH 0 0 2.20 0 3.30 1.50 0 0 Glycerol 0 0.60 0.20 1.90 0 0 7.00 10.00 Ethanol 0 0 1.84 0 0 0 0 0 Na citrate 4.60 3.30 3.30 1.40 0 1.50 0 0 Inventive com-pound(s) (total) 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 polymers 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-10 0 -10 0-10 0-10 At least one enzyme (each) 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 -3 0 -3 0 -3 water to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 Laundry powder frame formulations according to the invention: Actives (numbers: wt.% ac-tive) Bleach free Powder Alcohol ethoxylate 7E0 0.6 0 1 0 0 5.2 Coco fatty acid K12-18 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 Fatty alcohol ether sulphate 1.5 0 0 0 0 6 Linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid 12.1 11.2 13.6 21.9 18.7 12.7 Bleach activator 0 0 0 0 0 0 Percarbonate 0 0 0 0 0 0 AcetateNa 0 0 0 0.1 0 0.1 CitrateNa 0 0 0 0 0 14 Na Silicate 27.9 5.8 6.6 2 15 20.3 Na Carbonate 17.2 35 37.3 30.1 37 1 Na Phosphate 0 0 0 14 0.3 0 Na Hydrogencarbonate 0.7 0.9 0.5 2.7 0.4 10.5 Zeolite4A 4.2 0.1 5.1 10.2 1.8 11.6 HEDP 0 0 0 0 0 0.13 MGDA 0 1.1 0 0 0 0 at least one enzyme (each) 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 Na Sulfate 30.8 1.3 33 11 22 3 Na Chloride 0.2 43 0.1 0 0.1 0.1 optical brightener 0.02 0 0.1 0.06 Inventive Compound(s) (total) 0,2 -5 0,2 -5 0,2 -5 0,2 -5 0,2 -5 0,2 -5 polymers 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-10 Laundry powder frame formulations according to the invention -continued: Actives (numbers: wt.% active) Bleach containing Powder Alcohol ethoxylate 7E0 1.2 5 4 0.5 0.5 0 Coco fatty acid K12-18 0 0 0 0.3 0 0.6 Fatty alcohol ether sul-phate 0 3.9 4.4 1.6 0 0 Linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid 7.6 12.1 11.5 12.2 6.5 10.4 Bleach activator 0.2 9.5 9.5 0.5 0.8 2.2 Percarbonate 3.6 19.4 16.6 2.2 11.5 5.8 AcetateNa 0 6.7 7.1 0.3 1 0.7 CitrateNa 0 1.6 8.2 0.3 0.9 1.7 Na Silicate 3.6 11.3 16.4 10.2 9.1 16.5 Na Carbonate 21.6 8.7 1.4 8 22.9 14.8 Na Phospahte 0 0 0 0 0 0 Na Hydrogencarbonate 0.2 2.8 1.6 0.8 0.5 0.5 Zeolite4A 1.6 1.4 2.4 1.6 1.8 2.3 HEDP 0 0.27 0.16 0 0 0.17 MGDA 0 0 0 0 0 0 At least one enzyme (each) 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 0 -1.5 Na Sulfate 51 4 6 57 38 37 Na Chloride 1 1 0.5 1.2 0.2 1 optical brightener 0.29 0.1 0.23 0.13 0.19 Inventive Compound(s) (total) 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 0,5 -2 polymers 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-10 Further typical liquid detergent formulations LD1, LD2 and LD3 are shown in the following three tables: (numbers: wt.% active) Liquid detergent 1-LD1 "excellent" detergent; Liquid Detergent Formulation Sodium alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (00-03) LAS 9.5 Cis/Cis-Oxoalkohol reacted with 7 moles of E0 4,5 1,2 propyleneglycol 6 ethanol 2 potassium coconut soap 2.4 NaOH 2.2 lauryl ether sulphate (Texapon) 5.0 Sodium citrate 3 Sokalan HP 20 2 Inventive Compound or comparison 0,5-5 Graft polymer" 0-2 Water to 100 Liquid detergent 2-LD2 "medium" performance detergent Liquid Detergent Formulation Sodium alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (00-03) 5.5 03/05-0xoalkohol reacted with 7 moles of E0 5.4 1,2 propyleneglycol 6 ethanol 2 potassium coconut soap 2.4 Monoethanolamine 2.5 lauryl ether sulphate 5.4 Sodium citrate 3 Sokalan HP96 2 Inventive Compound or comparison 0,1-4 Graft polymer* 0-2 Water to 100 Liquid detergent 3-LD3 "medium" performance "biobased" detergent Liquid Detergent Formulation MGDA 5.5 APG, branched C13 Glucosid 3.5 1,2 propyleneglycol 6 ethanol 2 potassium coconut soap 4.4 NaOH 2.2 lauryl ether sulphate 9.5 Sodium citrate 3 Inventive Compound or comparison 0,1-4 Graft polymer* 0-2 Water to 100 All previous three tables on LD1, LD2, LD3: 'graft polymer" = (poly ethylene glycol of Mn 6000 g/mol as graft base, grafted with 40 weigth % vinyl acetate (based on total polymer weight; produced following general disclosure of W02007138054A1) Liquid manual dish wash frame formulations according to the invention: Ingredients MDW.1 MDW.2 MDW.3 MDW.4 MDW.5 MDW.6 MDW.7 MDW.8 Linear C12-C14-alkylbenzenesulfonic acid 8 0 6 0 6 0 6 0 C12-C14-fatty alcohol x 2 EO sulfate 8 16 6 12 6 12 6 12 Cocamidopropyl be-Caine 0 0 4 4 0 0 2 2 Lauramine oxide 0 0 0 0 4 4 2 2 2-Propylheptanol x 4 EO 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Inventive 0,5 -5 0,5 -5 0,5 -5 0,5 -5 0,5 -5 0,5 -5 0,5 -5 0,5 -5 Compound(s) (total) Ethanol 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Polymer(s) 0-5 0-5 0-5 0-5 0-5 0-5 0-5 0-5 2-Phenoxyethanol (preservative) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Sodium chloride 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Demin. water add 100 add 100 add 100 add 100 add 100 add 100 add 100 add 100 Sodium hydroxide add add add add add add add add pH 8 pH 8 pH 8 pH 8 pH 8 pH 8 pH 8 pH 8 It is preferred, that within the respective laundry detergent, cleaning composition and/or fabric and home care product, the at least one esteramine and/or salt thereof as described in this invenition is present at a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.2% to 5%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, all in relation to the total weight of such composition or product in relation to the total weight of such composition or product, and all numbers in between, and including all ranges resulting from selecting any of the lower limits mentioned and including further 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 1, 1,5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4, and combing with any of the upper limits mentioned and including 19, 18, 17, 16, 14, 13, 12, 11, 9, 8, 7, and 6.

The specific embodiments as described throughout this disclosure are encompassed by the present invention as part of this invention; the various further options being disclosed in this pre-sent specification as "optional", "preferred", "more preferred", "even more preferred" or "most preferred" options of a specific embodiment may be individually and independently (unless such independent selection is not possible by virtue of the nature of that feature or if such independent selection is explicitly excluded) selected and then combined within any of the other embodiments (where other such options and preferences can be also selected individually and inde-pendently), with each and any and all such possible combinations being included as part of this invention as individual embodiments, and especially with the preferred embodiments disclosed in the following section.

Preferred Embodiments Embodiment 1 Esteramine and its salt obtainable by a process comprising the step of reacting A+B+C in the presence of D, with at least one alcohol bearing at least one hydroxy group, wherein optionally at least one hydroxy group may be alkoxylated in a step before step a) with at least one alkylene oxide, preferably at least 1 and up to 200, preferably 1 to 100, more preferably up to 50 moles alkylene oxide per hydroxy group, at least one lactone and/or (preferably or) hydroxy acid, more preferably only lacton, with at least one lactam and/ or (preferably or) at least one aminoacid, more preferably only lactam, and an inorganic or organic acid, wherein said organic or inorganic acid has preferably a pKa value in the range of from -3 and up to +5, more preferably from -2,5 to 1,5, preferably or-ganic acid, more preferably sulfonic acids, even more preferably alkane sulfonic acid and/or aryl sulfonic acid, more preferably alkane sulfonic acid, most preferably methane sulfonic acid, wherein the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1:1.5, preferably about 1:0.95 to 1:1.1 and more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.08 and most preferably about 1: 1.02 such as exactly 1:1.02, and component C (Lactam) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being at most 1:1, preferably component C less than equal per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol), and component B (lacton/hydroxy acid) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being from 1:0,1 to 1:10.

Embodiment 2 Esteramine according to Embodiment 1, wherein the alcohol (A) is selected from (Aa) mono-alcohols such as C1-to C36-alkanols, selected from the groups non-alkoxylated lin-ear C2-to C36-alcohols, such as mixture of such alcohols selected from C6-to C22-fatty alcohols, preferably C8-to C22-fatty alcohols, more preferably C12-and C14-fatty alcohols, most preferably C16-and C18-fatty alcohols; non-alkoxylated branched C3-to C36-alcohols such as 2-ethylhexanol, 2-propylheptanol, isotridecanol, isononanol, C9-C17 oxoalcohols; alkoxylated linear C2-to C36-alcohols such as alkoxylated mixture of C6-to C22-fatty al-cohols, preferably alkoxylated mixtures of C8-to 022-fatty alcohols, more preferably alkoxylated mixtures of C12-and 014-fatty alcohols, most preferably alkoxylated mixtures of C16-and C18-fatty alcohols; alkoxylated branched C3-to C36-alcohols such as alkoxylated 2-ethylhexanol, alkoxylated 2-propylheptanol, alkoxylated isotridecanol, alkoxylated isononanol, alkoxylated C9-C17 oxoalcohols; (Ab) di-alcohols such als alkane diols, polyalkoxylated C2-C6-alkandiols bearing at least two hydroxy groups, (Ac) oligo-alcohols such as polyalkoxylated C3-C6-alkantriols, bearing at least three hydroxy groups, (Ad) polyols such as sugar alcohols, polyalkoxylated C5-C6-alkane polyols, glycerols such as diglycerol, triglycerol polyglycerol, dipentaerythrit, tripentaerythrit; and/or (Ae) phenoxyalkanols such as phenoxyethanol; with the alcohol(s) selected from the groups of mono-alcohols and alkoxylated di-, oligo-alcohols and alkoxylated polyols being preferred, and the alcohols selected from the group(s) mono-alcohols and alkoxylated di-alcohols being even more preferred.

Embodiment 3 Esteramine according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein the acid (D) is selected from i) alkyl sulfonic acids, such as methane sulfonic acid, ethylsulfonic acid, propylsulfonic acid, camphorsulfonic acid; alkylaryl sulfonic acids and specifically alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, such as toluene sulfonic acid (including the mixture of isomers thereof), p-toluene sulfonic acid, o-tol-uene sulfonic acid, m-toluene sulfonic acid, xylene sulfonic acid (mixture of isomers), 2, 6-dimethylbenzene sulfonic acid, 2, 5-dimethylbenzene sulfonic acid, 2, 4-dimethylbenzene sulfonic acid, 4-dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, iso-propyl benzene sulfonic acid, ethylbenzene sulfonic acid, and naphthalene sulfonic acid, ii) inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid; preferably sulfuric acid; preferably an acid selected from group i), more preferably para-toluene sulfonic acid and methane sulfonic acid, most preferably methane sulfonic acid.

Embodiment 4 Esteramine according to any of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the at least one lactone and/or hydroxy acid (B) is selected from the groups i) and/or ii), with i) lactone(s), i.e. cyclic esters, starting with a-lactone (three ring atoms) followed by (3-lactone (four ring atoms), y-lactone (five ring atoms) and so on; such lactones preferably being (3-propio- lactone, g-butyrolactone, 5-valerolactone, g-valerolactone, e-caprolactone, d-decalactone, g-decalactone, e-decalactone; preferably caprolactone; ii) hydroxy acid(s), which many be derived from any lactone by hydrolyzation, specifically from any lactone within group i) before, specifically an a-, p-or y-hydroxy acid derived from the corresponding lactone by hydrolyzation, and lactic acid, glycolic acid, 4-hydroxybutanoic acid, 6-hy-droxy hexanoic acid, 12-hydroxy stearic acid, citric acid; preferably lactic acid or caprolactone.

Embodiment 5 Esteramine according to any of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the lactam or aminoacid (C) is se- lected from lactams, which are cyclic amides, starting with alpha-lactam (three ring atoms) fol-lowed by beta-lactam (four ring atoms), gamma-lactam (five ring atoms) and so on, such as epsilon-caprolactam, gamma-butyrolactam, piperidone, laurolactam; and the corresponding alpha, beta-, gamma-amino acid and so on which may be obtained from the lactams by hydrolyzation; N-methylpyrrolidon; and alpha-amino acids such as alanine, glycine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, aspartate, glutamine, gluta-mate, histidine, lysine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, cysteine, methionine, serine; alpha-amino acids with secondary or tertiary amino groups such as sarcosine, N,N-dimethylglycine; other amino acids such as 6-amino hexane acid, 4-amino butanoic acid, 3-amino propanoic acid, 12-amino dodecanoic acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid; preferably alanine, 6-aminohexane acid, 4-amino butyric acid, more preferably epsilon-caprolac-tam.

Embodiment 6 Esteramine according to any of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the esteramine is obtained at least partially as sulfatized esteramine when sulfuric acid is employed as acid (D) and at least one alcohol (A) is selected containing more than one hydroxy-group, and is obtained as at least partially protonated esteramine and a sulfatized monoalcohol counterion when a mono-alcohol is employed as alcohol (A) and sulfuric acid is employed as acid (D).

Embodiment 7 Esteramine according to any of Embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the alcohol (A) employed is an alkoxylated alcohol which is obtained by alkoxylating at least one hydroxy group of the alcohol according to Embodiment 2 with one or more alkylene oxides to produce alkylene oxy-chains comprising one or more moieties stemming from alkylene oxides selected from C2 to C22-alkylene oxides, preferably C2-C4-alkylene oxides, whereas the moieties stemming from the alkylene oxide(s) may be arranged in random, block or multiblock-order or combinations thereof, preferably as block.

Embodiment 8 Esteramine according to any of Embodiments 6 to 7, wherein the acid (D) is chosen such that the esteramine is obtained as salt in zwitterionic or cationic form, preferably the acid chosen is methane sulfonic acid and the esteramine obtained is a salt in cationic form, wherein the zwit-terionic form additionally requires that at least one alcohol is selected containing more than one hydroxy-group.

Embodiment 9 Esteramine according to any of Embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the compounds A, B, C and D are employed in a molar ratio OH (of alcohol component A) : B (Lacton/ hydroxy acid) : C (Lactam/amino acid): D (acid) which is (1) : (0.1 -10, preferably0,1 -5) : (0.1 -1) : (0.1 -1.5).

Embodiment 10 Esteramine according to any of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the structure of is made of a first "block" (X) resulting from alcohol, which bears one or more hydroxy-groups of which at least one hydroxy-group is linked via an ester function to a second block (Y) which results from a single lacton or an oligo-or polyester-block, and a third block (Z) resulting from the addition of an aminoacid or a lactam to such second block, thus the esteramine exhibiting the structure "XYZ" or "X(Y)nZ" with n being integers from 1 to 10 in case the alcohol (A) is a mono-alcohol (from group Aa), whereas n can be any number from 0,1 to 10 for the esteramine in case the alcohol (A) employed is selected from the groups (Ab), (Ac) and/or (Ad).

Embodiment 11 Process for producing an esteramine according to any of Embodiments 1 to 10 comprising the steps of reacting i) at least one alcohol bearing at least one hydroxy group, preferably at least two hydroxy groups, wherein optionally at least hydroxy group may be alkoxylated in a step before step a) with at least one alkylene oxide, preferably at least 1 and up to 200, preferably 1 to 100, more preferably up to 50 moles alkylene oxide per hydroxy group, ii) with at least one lactone and/or (preferably or) hydroxy acid, more preferably only lacton, and iii) with at least one lactam and/ or (preferably or) at least one aminoacid, more preferably only lactam, iv) in the presence of an inorganic or organic acid, wherein said organic or inorganic acid has preferably a pKa value in the range of from -3 and up to +5, wherein the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1: 1.5, preferably about 1:0,95 to 1:1,1, more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.08, and most preferably about 1: 1.02 such as exactly 1:1,02.

Embodiment 12 Process according to Embodiment 10, wherein the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1:1.5, preferably about 1:0.95 to 1:1.1 and more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.08 and most preferably about 1: 1.02 such as exactly 1:1.02, and component C (Lactam) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being at most 1:1, preferably component C less than equal per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol), and component B (lacton/hydroxy acid) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being from 1:0,1 to 1:10.

Embodiment 13 Process according Embodiment 12, wherein the compounds A, B, C and D at employed in a molar ratio OH (of alcohol component A) : B (Lacton/ hydroxy acid) : C (Lactam/amino acid): D (acid) which is (1) : (0.1 -10, preferably 0,1 -5) : (0.1 -1) : (0.1 -1.5).

Embodiment 14 Use of an esteramine or a salt thereof according to any of Embodiments 1 to 10 or obtained by or obtainable by the process according to any of Embodiments 11 to 13 in a composition, that is a fabric and home care product, a cleaning composition, or an industrial and institutional cleaning product, comprising the at least one esteramine and/ or at least one salt thereof at a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 10% in weight % in relation to the total weight of such composition or product, the composition or product preferably being in in liquid or semi-liquid form, and optionally further fulfilling at least one of the following requirements: a. comprising at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydro-lases, amylases, proteases, cellulases, mannanases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, xylanases, DNases, dispersins, pectinases, oxidoreductases, cutinases, lactases and pe-roxidases, more preferably at least two of the aforementioned types, b. comprising about 1% to about 70% by weight of a surfactant system, c. comprising at least one further cleaning adjunct in effective amounts, and d. exhibiting an improved washing performance, preferably in primary cleaning.

Embodiment 15 A composition being a laundry detergent, a cleaning composition or a fabric and home care product, containing at least one esteramine and/or a salt thereof according to any of Embodi-ments 1 to 10 or obtained by or obtainable by the process according to any of Embodiments 11 to 13, comprising the at least one esteramine and/or the at least one salt thereof at a concentration of preferably from about 0.1% to about 5% in weight % in relation to the total weight of such composition or product, and optionally further comprising at least one of a) to c) a. at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amyl-ases, proteases, cellulases, mannanases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, xylanases, DNases, dispersins, pectinases, oxidoreductases, cutinases, lactases and peroxidases, more preferably at least two of the aforementioned types, b. about 1% to about 70% by weight of a surfactant system, c. at least one further cleaning adjunct in effective amounts, and optionally exhibiting an improved washing performance in primary cleaning (i.e. removal of stains).

Examples

Methods 1H NMR measured in Me0D (deuterated methanol) with Bruker Avance 400 MHz spectrometer. Hydroxy values are determined according to DIN 53240-1 as of 2016.

Example table -overview of examples Ex.# Example description (Components: "A + B + C + D") 1 2-EH + Caprolacton + Caprolactam 80% + MSA (1,2: 3: 1: 1,02), 5:1 H20/Caprolactam 2 2-EH + lactic acid + Caprolactam 80% + MSA (1,2 3 1 1,02), 5:1 H20/Caprolactam 3 Pluriol E 4000 + 3,0 Caprolacton/OH + 1,0 Caprolactam/OH + 1,1 MSA/OH 4 Polyglycerin HT + 2 Caprolacton/OH + 0,5 Caprolactam/OH + 0,51 H2SO4/OH Polyglycerin HT + 2 Caprolacton/OH + 1 Caprolactam/OH + 1,02 MSA/OH 6 Polyglycerin HT + 2 Caprolacton/OH + 0,5 Caprolactam/OH + 0,51 MSA/OH 7 Pluriol A 16 TE (= Glycerin + 5 EO/OH) + 0,66 Caprolacton /OH + 0,66 Caprolactam/OH + 0,67 MSA/OH 8 1 [Trispentaerythrit +20 (E0/0H)] + 3 (Caprolacton) + 1 Caprolactam + 1,02 MSA 9 Sorbitol + 1 Caprolacton/OH + 0,5 Caprolactam/OH + 0,51 H2SO4/OH (1: 6: 3: 3,06 mol) Sorbitol + 2 Caprolacton/OH + 0,5 Caprolactam/OH + 0,51 H2SO4/OH (1: 12: 3: 3,06 mol) Abbreviations in table of examples: 2-EH = 2-Ethylhexanol; Caprolacton = epsilon-Caprolacton; Caprolactam = epsilon-Caprolactam; MSA = Methane sulfonic acid; Pluriol E 4000 = ; Polyglycerin HT = ; Pluriol A 16 TE (Glycerin + 5 EO/OH) = glycerin ethoxylated with 5 mole-equivalents of ethylene oxide (=EC) per hydroxy-group; Trispentaerythrit +20 (E0/0H) = Trispentaerythrit ethoxylated with 20 mole-equivalents of ethylene oxide (=EO) per hydroxy-group Example 1: 2-Ethylhexanol, ester with 3 moles caprolactone and 1 mole caprolactam, as methane sulfonic acid salt In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stir- rer, 31.6 g 2-ethylhexanol, 69.2 g epsilon-caprolactone and 28.3 g epsilon-caprolactam (80% aqueous solution), were placed. 28.0 g methane sulfonic acid (70% aqueous solution) were added within 15 minutes. The temperature raised from room temperature to 52°C during the addition. Reaction mixture was heated to reflux and stirred for 9 hours under reflux. Reflux con-denser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was heated to 125-140°C bath temperature and stirred for 12.5 hours under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture. Water was distilled off from the reaction mixture. Vacuum was applied and the mixture was stirred for additional 5 hours at 140°C bath temperature and 5 mbar vacuum. 124.8 g of a white solid was obtained. 1 H-NMR in Me0D indicated 95% conversion to 2-Ethylhexanol, ester with 3 moles caprolactone and 1 mole caprolactam as methane sulfonic acid salt.

Example 2: 2-Ethylhexanol, ester with 3 moles lactic acid and 1 mole caprolactam, as methane sulfonic acid salt In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stir-rer, 39.5 g 2-ethylhexanol, 75.0 g lactic acid (90% in water) and 35.4 g epsilon-caprolactam (80% aqueous solution), were placed. 35.0 g methane sulfonic acid (70% aqueous solution) were added within 15 minutes. The temperature raised from room temperature to 33°C during the addition. Reaction mixture was heated to reflux and stirred for 4 hours under reflux. Reflux condenser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was heated to 125- 140°C bath temperature and stirred for 11 hours under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture. Water was distilled off from the reaction mixture. Vacuum was applied and the mixture was stirred for additional 15 hours at 140°C bath temperature and 5 mbar vacuum. 119.0 g of a white solid was obtained. 1 H-NMR in Me0D indicated complete conver- sion to 2-Ethylhexanol, ester with 3 moles lactic acid and 1 mole caprolactam as methane sul-fonic acid salt.

Example 3: Polyethylene glycol, molecular weight 4000 g/mol, ester with 6 moles caprolactone and 2 moles caprolactam, as methane sulfonic acid salt In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stir- rer, 123.1 g polyethylene glycol, molecular weight 4000 g/mol (Pluriol® E 4000), 20.5 g epsiloncaprolactone and 6.8 g epsilon-caprolactam, were placed and heated to 120°C bath temperature. 6.3 g methane sulfonic acid were added within 5 minutes. Reflux condenser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 9.5 hours at 120°C bath tempera- ture under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture. Water was dis-tilled off from the reaction mixture. Bath temperature was raised to 140°C and the mixture was stirred for additional 6 hours. 145.0 g of a white solid was obtained. 1 H-NMR in Me0D indicated complete conversion to polyethylene glycol, molecular weight 4000 g/mol, ester with 6 moles caprolactone and 2 moles caprolactam, as methane sulfonic acid salt.

Example 4: polyglycerol, ester with 2 moles caprolactone per hydroxy group and 0.5 mole ca-prolactam per hydroxy group, sulfatized with 0.5 mole sulfuric acid per hydroxy group In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stirrer, 24.4 g polyglycerol (hydroxy value 1148 mgKOH/g), 115.3 g epsilon-caprolactone and 35.4 g epsilon-caprolactam (80% aqueous solution), were placed. 26.1 g sulfuric acid (96%) were added within 15 minutes. The temperature raised from room temperature to 40°C during the ad- dition. Reaction mixture was heated to reflux and stirred for 22 hours under reflux. Reflux con-denser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was heated to 125-140°C bath temperature and stirred for 12.5 hours under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture. Water was distilled off from the reaction mixture. Vacuum was applied and the mixture was stirred for additional 12 hours at 140°C bath temperature and 5 mbar vacuum. 185.0 g of a brown solid was obtained. 1 H-NMR in Me0D indicated complete conversion to polyglycerol, ester with 2 moles caprolactone per hydroxy group and 0.5 mole caprolactam per hydroxy group, sulfatized with 0.5 mole sulfuric acid per hydroxy group.

Example 5: polyglycerol, ester with 2 moles caprolactone per hydroxy group and 1 mole capro-lactam per hydroxy group, as methane sulfonic acid salt In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stirrer, 17.1 g polyglycerol (hydroxy value 1148 mgKOH/g), 80.7 g epsilon-caprolactone and 49.5 g epsilon-caprolactam (80% aqueous solution), were placed. 49.0 g methane sulfonic acid (70% aqueous solution) were added within 5 minutes. The temperature raised from room temperature to 30°C during the addition. Reaction mixture was heated to reflux and stirred for 5 hours under reflux. Reflux condenser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was heated to 125-140°C bath temperature and stirred for 12 hours under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture. Water was distilled off from the reaction mixture. Vacuum was applied and the mixture was stirred for additional 12 hours at 140°C bath tempera-ture and 5 mbar vacuum. 150.0 g of a beige solid was obtained. 1 H-NMR in Me0D indicated complete conversion to polyglycerol, ester with 2 moles caprolactone per hydroxy group and 1 mole caprolactam per hydroxy group, as methane sulfonic acid salt Example 6: polyglycerol, ester with 2 moles caprolactone per hydroxy group and 0.5 mole ca-prolactam per hydroxy group, as methane sulfonic acid salt In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stirrer, 21.9 g polyglycerol (hydroxy value 1148 mgKOH/g), 103.8 g epsilon-caprolactone and 31.8 g epsilon-caprolactam (80% aqueous solution), were placed. 31.5 g methane sulfonic acid (70% aqueous solution) were added within 5 minutes. The temperature raised from room temperature to 30°C during the addition. Reaction mixture was heated to reflux and stirred for 5 hours under reflux. Reflux condenser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was heated to 125-140°C bath temperature and stirred for 17 hours under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture. Water was distilled off from the reaction mixture. Vacuum was applied and the mixture was stirred for additional 12 hours at 140°C bath tempera-ture and 5 mbar vacuum. 151.0 g of a beige solid was obtained. 1 H-NMR in Me0D indicated complete conversion to polyglycerol, ester with 2 moles caprolactone per hydroxy group and 0.5 mole caprolactam per hydroxy group, as methane sulfonic acid salt Example 7: glycerol ethoxylate, molecular weight 750 g/mol, ester with 2 moles caprolactone and 2 moles caprolactam, as methane sulfonic acid salt In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stir-rer, 154.3 g glycerol ethoxylate, molecular weight 750 g/mol, 50.2 g epsilon-caprolactone and 49.8 g epsilon-caprolactam, were placed and heated to 120°C bath temperature. 42.5 g methane sulfonic acid were added within 5 minutes. Reflux condenser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 9. hours at 135°C bath temperature under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture. Water was distilled off from the reaction mixture. Vacuum was applied and the mixture was stirred for additional 15 hours at 140°C bath temperature and 5 mbar vacuum. 290.0 g of a brown solid was obtained. 1H-NMR in Me0D indicated 96 % conversion to glycerol ethoxylate, molecular weight 750 g/mol, ester with 2 moles caprolactone and 2 moles caprolactam, as methane sulfonic acid salt.

Example 8: trispentaerythrit, ethoxylated with 160 moles ethylene oxide, ester with 24 moles ca-prolactone and 8 moles caprolactam, as methane sulfonic acid salt In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stir- rer, 200.0 g trispentaerythrit, ethoxylated with 160 moles ethylene oxide, 74.0 g epsilon-capro-lactone, 30.6 g epsilon-caprolactam (80% aqueous solution), and 13.1 g water were placed.

21.7 g methane sulfonic acid were added within 5 minutes. The temperature raised from room temperature to 45°C during the addition. Reaction mixture was heated to reflux, and was stirred under reflux for 3 h. Reflux condenser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 6 hours at 135°C bath temperature under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture. Water was distilled off from the reaction mixture. 310.0 g of a brown solid was obtained. 1H-NMR in Me0D indicated 97 % conversion to trispentaerythrit, eth-oxylated with 160 moles ethylene oxide, ester with 24 moles caprolactone and 8 moles caprolactam, as methane sulfonic acid salt Example 9: sorbitol, ester with 6 moles caprolactone and 3 mole caprolactam, sulfatized with 3 moles sulfuric acid In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stirrer, 36.4 g sorbitol, 137.0 g epsilon-caprolactone, 84.9 g epsilon-caprolactam (80% aqueous solution), and 34.6 g water were placed. 62.5 g sulfuric acid (96%) were added within 5 minutes. The temperature raised from room temperature to 40°C during the addition. Reaction mixture was heated to reflux and stirred for 3 hours under reflux. Reflux condenser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was heated to 125-140°C bath temperature and stirred for 5 hours under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture. Water was distilled off from the reaction mixture. Vacuum was applied and the mixture was stirred for additional 5 hours at 140°C bath temperature and 750 mbar vacuum. 270.0 g of a beige solid was obtained. 1H-NMR in Me0D indicated 97% conversion to sorbitol, ester with 6 moles caprolactone and 3 mole caprolactam, sulfatized with 3 moles sulfuric acid.

Example 10: sorbitol, ester with 12 moles caprolactone and 3 mole caprolactam, sulfatized with 3 moles sulfuric acid In a 4-neck vessel with thermometer, reflux condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel, and stir-rer, 36.4 g sorbitol, 273.9 g epsilon-caprolactone, 84.9 g epsilon-caprolactam (80% aqueous solution), and 34.6 g water were placed. 62.5 g sulfuric acid (96%) were added within 5 minutes.

The temperature raised from room temperature to 40°C during the addition. Reaction mixture was heated to reflux and stirred for 3 hours under reflux. Reflux condenser was replaced by a distillation head, and the reaction mixture was heated to 125-140°C bath temperature and stirred for 2 hours under a constant stream of nitrogen bubbling through the reaction mixture.

Water was distilled off from the reaction mixture. Vacuum was applied and the mixture was stirred for additional 5 hours at 140°C bath temperature and 750 mbar vacuum. 430.0 g of a beige solid was obtained. 1H-NMR in Me0D indicated 99% conversion to sorbitol, ester with 12 moles caprolactone and 3 mole caprolactam, sulfatized with 3 moles sulfuric acid.

Claims

Claims Claim 1 Esteramine and its salt obtainable by a process comprising the step of reacting A+B+C in the presence of D, with i) at least one alcohol bearing at least one hydroxy group, wherein optionally at least one hydroxy group may be alkoxylated in a step before step a) with at least one alkylene oxide, preferably at least 1 and up to 200, preferably 1 to 100, more preferably up to 50 moles alkylene oxide per hydroxy group, ii) at least one lactone and/or (preferably or) hydroxy acid, more preferably only lacton, iii) with at least one lactam and/ or (preferably or) at least one aminoacid, more preferably only lactam, and iv) an inorganic or organic acid, wherein said organic or inorganic acid has preferably a pKa value in the range of from -3 and up to +5, more preferably from -2,5 to 1,5, preferably or-ganic acid, more preferably sulfonic acids, even more preferably alkane sulfonic acid and/or aryl sulfonic acid, more preferably alkane sulfonic acid, most preferably methane sulfonic acid, wherein the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1:1.5, preferably about 1:0.95 to 1:1.1 and more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.08 and most preferably about 1: 1.02 such as exactly 1:1.02, and component C (Lactam) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being at most 1:1, preferably component C less than equal per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol), and component B (lacton/hydroxy acid) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being from 1:0,1 to 1:10.Claim 2 Esteramine according to Claim 1, wherein the alcohol (A) is selected from (Aa) mono-alcohols such as C1-to C36-alkanols, selected from the groups non-alkoxylated lin-ear C2-to C36-alcohols, such as mixture of such alcohols selected from C6-to C22-fatty alcohols, preferably C8-to C22-fatty alcohols, more preferably C12-and C14-fatty alcohols, most preferably C16-and C18-fatty alcohols; non-alkoxylated branched C3-to C36-alcohols such as 2-ethylhexanol, 2-propylheptanol, isotridecanol, isononanol, C9-C17 oxoalcohols; alkoxylated linear C2-to C36-alcohols such as alkoxylated mixture of C6-to C22-fatty al-cohols, preferably alkoxylated mixtures of C8-to 022-fatty alcohols, more preferably alkoxylated mixtures of C12-and 014-fatty alcohols, most preferably alkoxylated mixtures of C16-and C18-fatty alcohols; alkoxylated branched C3-to C36-alcohols such as alkoxylated 2-ethylhexanol, alkoxylated 2-propylheptanol, alkoxylated isotridecanol, alkoxylated isononanol, alkoxylated C9-C17 oxoalcohols; (Ab) di-alcohols such als alkane diols, polyalkoxylated C2-C6-alkandiols bearing at least two hydroxy groups, (Ac) oligo-alcohols such as polyalkoxylated C3-C6-alkantriols, bearing at least three hydroxy groups, (Ad) polyols such as sugar alcohols, polyalkoxylated C5-C6-alkane polyols, glycerols such as diglycerol, triglycerol polyglycerol, dipentaerythrit, tripentaerythrit; and/or (Ae) phenoxyalkanols such as phenoxyethanol; with the alcohol(s) selected from the groups of mono-alcohols and alkoxylated di-, oligo-alco- hols and alkoxylated polyols being preferred, and the alcohols selected from the group(s) mono-alcohols and alkoxylated di-alcohols being even more preferred.Claim 3 Esteramine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the acid (D) is selected from i) alkyl sulfonic acids, such as methane sulfonic acid, ethylsulfonic acid, propylsulfonic acid, camphorsulfonic acid; alkylaryl sulfonic acids and specifically alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, such as toluene sulfonic acid (including the mixture of isomers thereof), p-toluene sulfonic acid, o-tol-uene sulfonic acid, m-toluene sulfonic acid, xylene sulfonic acid (mixture of isomers), 2, 6-dimethylbenzene sulfonic acid, 2, 5-dimethylbenzene sulfonic acid, 2, 4-dimethylbenzene sulfonic acid, 4-dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, iso-propyl benzene sulfonic acid, ethylbenzene sulfonic acid, and naphthalene sulfonic acid, ii) inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid; preferably sulfuric acid; preferably an acid selected from group i), more preferably para-toluene sulfonic acid and methane sulfonic acid, most preferably methane sulfonic acid.Claim 4 Esteramine according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one lactone and/or hydroxy acid (B) is selected from the groups i) and/or ii), with i) lactone(s), i.e. cyclic esters, starting with a-lactone (three ring atoms) followed by (3-lactone (four ring atoms), y-lactone (five ring atoms) and so on; such lactones preferably being (3-propio- lactone, g-butyrolactone, 5-valerolactone, g-valerolactone, e-caprolactone, d-decalactone, g-decalactone, e-decalactone; preferably caprolactone; ii) hydroxy acid(s), which many be derived from any lactone by hydrolyzation, specifically from any lactone within group i) before, specifically an a-, p-or y-hydroxy acid derived from the corresponding lactone by hydrolyzation, and lactic acid, glycolic acid, 4-hydroxybutanoic acid, 6-hy-droxy hexanoic acid, 12-hydroxy stearic acid, citric acid; preferably lactic acid or caprolactone.Claim 5 Esteramine according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the lactam or aminoacid (C) is selected from lactams, which are cyclic amides, starting with alpha-lactam (three ring atoms) followed by beta-lactam (four ring atoms), gamma-lactam (five ring atoms) and so on, such as epsilon-caprolactam, gamma-butyrolactam, piperidone, laurolactam; and the corresponding alpha-, beta-, gamma-amino acid and so on which may be obtained from the lactams by hydrolyzation; Nmethylpyrrolidon; and alpha-amino acids such as alanine, glycine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, aspartate, glutamine, glutamate, his-tidine, lysine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, cysteine, methionine, serine; alpha-amino acids with secondary or tertiary amino groups such as sarcosine, N,N-dimethylglycine; other amino acids such as 6-amino hexane acid, 4-amino butanoic acid, 3-amino propanoic acid, 12-amino dodecanoic acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid; preferably alanine, 6-aminohexane acid, 4-amino butyric acid, more preferably epsilon-caprolac-tam.Claim 6 Esteramine according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the esteramine is obtained at least partially as sulfatized esteramine when sulfuric acid is employed as acid (D) and at least one alcohol (A) is selected containing more than one hydroxy-group, and is obtained as at least partially protonated esteramine and a sulfatized monoalcohol counterion when a mono-alcohol is em-ployed as alcohol (A) and sulfuric acid is employed as acid (D).Claim 7 Esteramine according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the alcohol (A) employed is an alkox- ylated alcohol which is obtained by alkoxylating at least one hydroxy group of the alcohol ac-cording to Claim 2 with one or more alkylene oxides to produce alkylene oxy-chains comprising one or more moieties stemming from alkylene oxides selected from C2 to C22-alkylene oxides, preferably C2-C4-alkylene oxides, whereas the moieties stemming from the alkylene oxide(s) may be arranged in random, block or multiblock-order or combinations thereof, preferably as block.Claim 8 Esteramine according to any of Claims 6 to 7, wherein the acid (D) is chosen such that the es- teramine is obtained as salt in zwitterionic or cationic form, preferably the acid chosen is me- thane sulfonic acid and the esteramine obtained is a salt in cationic form, wherein the zwitteri-onic form additionally requires that at least one alcohol is selected containing more than one hydroxy-group.Claim 9 Esteramine according to any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the compounds A, B, C and D are em-ployed in a molar ratio OH (of alcohol component A) : B (Lacton/ hydroxy acid) : C (Lactam/amino acid): D (acid) which is (1) : (0.1 -10, preferably0,1 -5) : (0.1 -1) : (0.1 -1.5).Claim 10 Esteramine according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the structure of is made of a first "block" (X) resulting from alcohol, which bears one or more hydroxy-groups of which at least one hydroxy-group is linked via an ester function to a second block (Y) which results from a single lac-ton or an oligo-or polyester-block, and a third block (Z) resulting from the addition of an amino-acid or a lactam to such second block, thus the esteramine exhibiting the structure "XYZ" or "X(Y)nZ" with n being integers from 1 to 10 in case the alcohol (A) is a mono-alcohol (from group Aa), whereas n can be any number from 0,1 to 10 for the esteramine in case the alcohol (A) employed is selected from the groups (Ab), (Ac) and/or (Ad).Claim 11 Process for producing an esteramine according to any of Claims 1 to 10 comprising the steps of reacting i) at least one alcohol bearing at least one hydroxy group, preferably at least two hydroxy groups, wherein optionally at least hydroxy group may be alkoxylated in a step before step a) with at least one alkylene oxide, preferably at least 1 and up to 200, preferably 1 to 100, more preferably up to 50 moles alkylene oxide per hydroxy group, ii) with at least one lactone and/or (preferably or) hydroxy acid, more preferably only lacton, and iii) with at least one lactam and/ or (preferably or) at least one aminoacid, more preferably only lactam, iv) in the presence of an inorganic or organic acid, wherein said organic or inorganic acid has preferably a pKa value in the range of from -3 and up to +5, wherein the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1: 1.5, preferably about 1:0,95 to 1:1,1, more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.08, and most preferably about 1: 1.02 such as exactly 1:1,02.Claim 12 Process according to Claim 11, wherein the molar ratio of component C (Lactam) to component D (acid) is within a range of 1:0.9 to 1:1.5, preferably about 1:0.95 to 1:1.1 and more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.08 and most preferably about 1: 1.02 such as exactly 1:1.02, and component C (Lactam) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being at most 1:1, preferably component C less than equal per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol), and component B (lacton/hydroxy acid) per hydroxy-group in component A (alcohol) being from 1:0,1 to 1:10.Claim 13 Process according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the compounds A, B, C and D are employed in a molar ratio OH (of alcohol component A) : B (Lacton/ hydroxy acid) : C (Lactam/amino acid): D (acid) which is (1) : (0.1 -10, preferably 0,1 -5) : (0.1 -1) : (0.1 -1.5).Claim 14 Use of an esteramine or a salt thereof according to any of Claims 1 to 10 or obtained by or ob-tainable by the process according to any of Claims 11 to 13 in a composition, that is a fabric and home care product, a cleaning composition, or an industrial and institutional cleaning product.Claim 15 The use according to Claim 14, wherein the composition comprises at least one esteramine and/ or at least one salt thereof at a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 5% in weight % in relation to the total weight of such composition or product.Claim 16 The use according to Claim 14 or 15, wherein the composition is in liquid or semi-liquid form.Claim 17 The use according to any of Claims 14 to 16, further fulfilling at least one of the following requirements: a. comprising at least one enzyme, b. comprising about 1% to about 70% by weight of a surfactant system, c. comprising at least one further cleaning adjunct in effective amounts, and d. exhibiting an improved washing performance, preferably in primary cleaning.Claim 18 A composition being a laundry detergent, a cleaning composition or a fabric and home care product, containing at least one esteramine and/or a salt thereof according to any of Claims 1 to 10 or obtained by or obtainable by the process according to any of Claims 11 to 13, comprising the at least one esteramine and/or the at least one salt thereof at a concentration of preferably from about 0.1% to about 5% in weight % in relation to the total weight of such composition or product, and optionally further comprising at least one of a) to c) a. at least one enzyme, preferably selected from one or more lipases, hydrolases, amyl-ases, proteases, cellulases, mannanases, hemicellulases, phospholipases, esterases, xylanases, DNases, dispersins, pectinases, oxidoreductases, cutinases, lactases and peroxidases, more preferably at least two of the aforementioned types, b. about 1% to about 70% by weight of a surfactant system, c. at least one further cleaning adjunct in effective amounts, and optionally exhibiting an improved washing performance in primary cleaning.Claim 19 The composition of Claim 18 being in liquid or semi-liquid form, preferably being a concentrated liquid detergent formulation, single mono doses laundry detergent formulation, liquid hand dish washing detergent formulation or solid automatic dish washing formulation, more preferably a liquid laundry detergent formulation, optionally further comprising at least one antimicrobial agent, preferably 2-phenoxyethanol, in an amount ranging from 2ppm to 5%, more preferably 0.1 to 2% by weight of the composition, and optionally comprising 4,4'-dichloro 2-hydroxydiphenylether in a concentration from 0.001 to 3%, preferably 0.002 to 1%, more preferably 0.01 to 0.6%, each by weight of the composition.Claim 20 A method of preserving a composition according to any of Claims 18 or 19 against microbial contamination or growth, which method comprises addition of an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol to the composition which is an aqueous composition comprising water as solvent.Claim 21 A method of laundering fabric or of cleaning hard surfaces, which method comprises treating a fabric or a hard surface with a composition according to any of Claims 18 to 19, wherein the composition comprises 4,4'-dichloro 2-hydroxydiphenylether, preferably comprising 4,4'-dichloro 2-hydroxydiphenylether in a concentration from 0.001 to 3%, preferably 0.002 to 1%, more preferably 0.01 to 0.6%, each by weight of the composition.Esteramine and its salt obtainable by a process comprising reacting i) alcohol, ii) lactone and/or hydroxyacid, iii) lactam and/or aminoacid with iv) acid