GB775364A - Improvements in soap compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

Water-soluble surface-active alkali metal salts of N-substituted amino acids of the general formula R1R11N-R-COOM, where R denotes a hydrocarbon radical which contains more than 3 carbon atoms in the chain, and may be substituted with not more than two methyl or ethyl radicals; R1 denotes a hydrocarbon radical of 10 to 20, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms; R11 denotes hydrogen, or an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical preferably methyl or ethyl, containing not more than 4 carbon atoms; and M denotes sodium or potassium, may be prepared by (a) condensation of a fatty amine with a lactone to form a hydroxy-amide, (b) cyclization of this hydroxy-amide by the action of heat to form a cyclic amide, i.e. an N-substituted pyrrolidone, and (c) fission of this cyclic amide with strong acid or alkali to yield the N-substituted amino acid. An example is given in which dodecylamine is condensed with g -butyrolactone to yield N-dodecyl-g -hydroxybutyramide, which compound is cyclized to N-dodecyl pyrrolidone and the latter is hydrolysed to N-dodecyl-g -aminobutyric acid.ALSO:A soap composition includes a water-soluble, surface-active alkali metal salt of a N-substituted amino acid of the general formula R1R11N-R-COOM, where R denotes a hydrocarbon radical which contains 1 to 5, preferably 1 to 4, carbon atoms in the chain, other than the unsubstituted methylene or ethylene radicals, and may be substituted with not more than two methyl or ethyl radicals; R1 denotes a hydrocarbon radical of 10 to 20, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms; R11 denotes hydrogen, or an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical preferably methyl or ethyl, containing not more than 4 carbon atoms; and M denotes sodium or potassium. A number of compounds falling within the formula are specified. The amino acid salt is used in amount of at least 5 per cent. and preferably 10-15 per cent, by weight of the soap present. In the case of toilet soaps non-ionic detergents may also be added to the composition in amounts of at least 1 per cent, and preferably 3-10 per cent based on the soap. Suitable non-ionic detergents are the surface-active lower polyalkylene oxide derivatives of long chain alkyl phenols, fatty alcohols, long chain fatty acids, and long chain esters of polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitan monolaurate. The compositions may also include builders such as sodium carbonate and silicate. Examples are given.