Anionic Surface Active Compositions

This invention relates to a new anionic chemical compound which is a surface-active agent and responds to the following formula: ##EQU2## in which R is an alkyl or alkenyl aliphatic radical having 8 to 22 carbon atoms or an alkyl-aryl radical, having 12 to 22 carbon atoms on the alkyl group;

X and X' may be identical or different and represent oxygen, sulfur or a sulfoxide group;

A represents an ethylene, propylene or butylene radical;

A' represents --C.sub.2 H.sub.3 (CH.sub.2 OH)-- or --CH.sub.2 CHOH--CH.sub.2 --;

A" represents --CH.sub.2 CHOH--CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 or --CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)--;

at least one of the radicals A' and A" being a hydroxyalkylene radical such as --CH.sub.2 CHOH--CH.sub.2 -- or C.sub.2 H.sub.3 (CH.sub.2 OH)--;

m and n each represent a number having a statistical average value between 0 and 10 inclusive;

R' represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical containing 1 to 2 carbon atoms.

If m and n are both equal to 0, X' must represent a sulfoxide group.

The present invention also includes the alkaline (Na, K, etc.) and alkaline earth (Mg, Ca, etc.) salts, the ammonium salts, and the amine salts of carboxylic acids responding to formula I.

It should be noted that one of the essential features of the above-defined products is that they comprise a mono- or polyether chain either mono- or polyhydroxylated between the lipophilic portion of its molecule and the carboxylic acid group. This mono- or polyhydroxylated chain may be preceded by a polyoxyalkylene group. When a single --CH.sub.2 CHOH--CH.sub.2 -- radical is positioned between the lipophilic portion and the carboxylic group, it is accompanied, as indicated in the above definition, either by a sulfoxide bond or at least one alkylene group.

The properties of the products according to the invention are in general similar to those of the polyoxyalkylene-carboxylic acids heretofore known, but they are clearly more accentuated. In particular, the compounds according to the invention have very valuable properties with respect to solubility. They dissolve readily in concentrated sodium hydroxide solutions because they contain the hydroxyalkylene radicals designated by A' and A". They also disperse or dissolve readily in water, and may be used even in "hard" water. To be precise, the alkaline earth salts of the carboxylic acids of this invention will disperse or dissolve in water provided that in the above general formula, the parameter n has a value equal to or greater than 0.5 when X is an atom of oxygen or sulfur. Finally these products are readily soluble in an acid medium and highly compatible with cationic surface active agents.

When the compounds of this invention are used in hard water, it should be noted that the above properties are completely unexpected, because the most closely similar compounds have no such properties. For example, when any of the known compounds C.sub.12 H.sub.25 -- S--CH.sub.2 --COONa, ##EQU3## are dissolved in demineralized water at a concentration of 0.5.permill., turbidity results when an 0.1% solution of calcium chloride is added, whereas then the closely similar compound according to the invention: ##EQU4## is subjected to the same test only very slight turbidity results from the addition of a quantity of calcium chloride about 100% in excess of the quantity theoretically required for double decomposition. Moreover, in this case, even the presence of a considerable excess of calcium ions, more than 10 times the equivalent quantity, the resulting dispersion is not opaque, whereas with the compounds heretofore known the turbidity progresses rapidly to complete opacity.

The compounds according to the invention have foaming and detergent properties and may be desirably used in shampoos. Their application to the hair imparts thereto much softer touch than when alkyl sulfates are used. The compounds of this invention may also be used as a carrier for hair dyes which soften the hair.

Any know hair dye can be mixed with the surface active agents of this invention to form an improved dye product which colors and softens the hair. Preferred hair dyes to be used in such compositions include nitro amino phenyl hair dyes, quaternary ammonium anthraquinone hair dyes, azo hair dyes, etc. Examples 16 to 20 below set forth a few hair dye compositions containing the hair softening agents of this invention.

Moreover, outside the cosmetic field, the compounds according to the invention may be utilized for many different purposes, in particular for degreasing wool, bleaching and mercerizing cotton, etc.

In order to prepare the chemical compounds responding to formula (I) in which X' represents a thioether bond, a mercapto-alkane acid or a salt or low molecular weight ester of such an acid, is reacted with either:

the glycidol ethers responding to the formula: ##EQU5## in which R, X, A, m and n have the significances hereinbefore indicated and

A'" is identical to A or represents either C.sub.2 H.sub.3 (CH.sub.2 Cl) or C.sub.2 H.sub.3 (CH.sub.2 Br);

or the allyl alcohol ethers responding to the formula:

in which

R, x, a, a'", m and n have the significance hereinbefore assigned thereto.

When glycidyl ethers responding to formula (II) are used, the esters or salts of the mercapto-alkanoic acid give the best results. The molar proportion of the mercapto-alkanoic acid, its salts and esters, to the glycidyl ether is of the order of 1 to 1.5 and preferably from 1 to 1.1 mols of the former per mol of the latter.

The glycidyl ethers are reacted with the esters of salts of the mercapto-alkanoic acids at a temperature between 20.degree. and 150.degree.C and preferably between 100.degree. and 120.degree.C. In order to obtain high yields in a relatively short time, alkaline catalysts such as alcoholates, mercaptides, hydroxides and tertiary amines may be used. Among the suitable tertiary amines are triethylamine, tripropylamine, 1,3-N,N'-tetramethylbutane-diamine and N-N'-tetramethylethylene-diamine. When these tertiary amines are used with esters of mercapto-alkanoic acids, thioethers responding to formula (I) are obtained, in the form of methyl or ethyl esters with practically quantitative yields. The tertiary amines used as catalysts preferably constitute from 1 to 5% of the reaction mixture.

When the radical A'" of formula (II) represents a halogenated radical and when esters of the mercapto-alkanoic acids are used, the resulting thioether is polyhalogenated, and in order to then obtain the product of formula (I) the halogen atoms must be replaced by a hydroxyl group and the resulting thio-alkanoic ester must be saponified.

When the parameter n is less than 2, the substitution of the halogen atom by a hydroxyl group and the saponification may be carried out simultaneously in a single step by treating the thioether with an alkaline reagent such as sodium or potassium hydroxide. These bases are used in stoichiometric proportion to the ester and halide groups, and by operating at a temperature of about 120.degree.C, a transformation rate greater than 90% is obtained at the end of about 4 to 5 hours. The reaction mass is sufficiently fluid to render the addition of a solvent unnecessary. Moreover, when the medium contains only a small amount of water, it is not necessary to carry out the reaction under pressure.

When n is greater than or equal to 2, the substitution of the halogen atom by the hydroxyl group is carried out by using an alkaline salt of carboxylic acid and the process is terminated by saponifying the thio-alkanoic ester. This substitution is analogous to the one described in French Pat. No. 1,477,048 of Apr. 21, 1966 and the halide formed is separated by filtration before the saponification.

When the preparation is carried out with alkyl ethers responding to formula (III), free mercapto-alkanoic acids are preferably used. The products according to formula (I) are then obtained directly at the end of several hours, by simply heating the reaction mixture at a temperature between 25.degree. and 150.degree.C, and preferably between 100.degree. and 130.degree.C.

The alkyl ethers responding to formula (III) may be obtained:

Either by reacting allyl-glycidyl ether with compounds responding to the formula RX--(AO).sub.m --H, in which m has a statistical average value between 0 and 10 inclusive and R, X and A have the significances hereinbefore assigned thereto;

or by reacting glycidyl ethers responding to formula (II) with allyl alcohol.

Suitable catalysts for use in these two reactions include alkaline metals, alkaline hydroxides, alkaline alcoholates, alkaline mercaptides and tertiary amines. Acid catalysts, such as boron trifluoride, stannic chloride, and antimony pentachloride may also be used.

In order to prepare these chemical compounds responding to formula (I) in which X' represents sulfoxide group, the corresponding compound in which X' represents a thioether group is first prepared, and then oxidized by adding hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a carboxylic acid, such for example, as acetic acid. Because of the difficulty involved in the elimination of the said carboxylic acid, it is preferred to use it in a small quantity, for example, about 1 to 2% by weight as compared to the dry extract of the preparation. This oxidation is carried out at a temperature between 0.degree. and 50.degree.C and preferably between 30.degree. and 35.degree.C.

In order to prepare those chemical compounds according to formula (I) in which X' represents an oxygen atom, polyetheralcohol alcoholates responding to the formula:

in which R, X, A, A", A'", m and n have the significances hereinbefore ascribed thereto and in which M represents an alkaline metal, such as sodium, are reacted with a haloalkane carboxylic salt responding to the formula: ##EQU6## in which R' has the significance hereinbefore indicated,

M' represents an alkaline metal and

Y represents a halogen atom, preferably chlorine or bromine,

When in the course of this process, it is desired to obtain as an intermediate glycerol ether responding to the formula:

in which R, X, A, m and n have the significances hereinbefore ascribed thereto, and in which Z represents a halogen atom, an alternative process may be adopted by exploiting the reactivity of the acid function of the haloalkane carboxylic acids. The above reaction may thus be carried out directly by reacting a haloalkane carboxylic acid responding to the formula: ##EQU7## in which Y and R' have the significances hereinbefore ascribed thereto with a glycidyl ether responding to the formula: ##EQU8## in which R, A, Z, m and n have the significances hereinbefore indicated and then treating the resulting product with an alkaline metal hydroxide so as to form "in situ" the alkaline salt of a haloalkanecarboxylic acid and the alcoholates of the glycerol ethers of formula VI.

The resulting carboxylic acid polyether may be separated from the alkaline salt by using an aqueous solution of a strong mineral acid such as sulfuric acid, and is thus purified.

Finally, the halogen atoms Z are replaced by hydroxyl groups.

In the first step of this process it is preferred to utilize a quantity of haloalkanoic acid from 10 to 100% in excess of the stoichiometric quantity. For the final step, a technique is used which is analogous to the one described above for preparing compounds, having thioether bonds.

Compounds of this invention which illustrate the compounds of formula I and its salts are: ##EQU9##

Among the alkyl-aryl groups which may be represented by R in formula I are:

p-octyl-phenyl

p-nonyl-phenyl

p-dodecyl-phenyl

p-hexadecyl-phenyl.

The products comprising these radicals may be obtained by processes using alkyl-phenols as starting materials. These alkyl-phenols are usually complex mixtures resulting from the alkylation of phenol with hydro carbons such as diisobutylene, tripropylene, tetrapropylene, or hexadecene.

In order that the invention may be better understood, several methods of preparing compounds according to formula (I) and several examples showing how these compounds may be used in the cosmetic field will now be described:

Preparation of the compound responding to the formula: ##EQU10##

3.5 ml of triethylamine is added to 120 g (1 mole) of ethyl thioglycolate under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture is brought to 100.degree.C and 242g (1 mole) of distilled dodecyl-glycidyl ether is added drop by drop. Heating is continued for about 3 hours. The reaction is then practically complete. The excess ethyl thioglycolate is then eliminated under vacuum.

The ester thus obtained is then poured into 200 cc of acetic acid and 1 mole of hydrogen peroxide at 130 volumes (50% diluted with acetic acid) is then added drop by drop. The reaction is exothermic and the temperature is kept between 30.degree. and 35.degree.C.

After resting overnight at room temperature, no more free peroxides remain. The mixture is then heated under vacuum to eliminate the acetic acid. On cooling the sulfoxide crystallizes out.

The product is redissolved in 200 to 250 cc of CH.sub.3 OH and 100 g of 40% NaOH and the sodium soap is precipitated with acetone. The result is an odorless white powder.

Preparation of the compound responding to the formula: ##EQU11## in which R represents an aliphatic radical containing 12 to 14 carbon atoms and n has a statistical average value of 0.5.

1.6 ml of a boron fluoride acetic acid complex is added to 396g (2 moles) of a mixture of fatty alcohols consisting essentially of dodecanol and tetradecanol. 277g of epichlorohydrin is then added drop by drop, at 75.degree. to 80.degree.C. When the reaction is complete the product is poured into 675g of tertiobutyl alcohol and 300 g of 40% NaOH is added. This is heated for an hour at 75.degree.C. After adding the quantity of water required to dissolve the salt thus formed, salting out yields the epoxide in tertiobutyl alcohol.

300g (1 mole) of the epoxide obtained by distilling the tertiobutyl alcohol is added, drop by drop, at 105.degree. to 115.degree.C, under a nitrogen atmosphere, to 132g (1.1 moles) of ethyl thioglycolate and 4.5 cc of triethylamine. This temperature is maintained for 3 hours. The reaction is then complete. The excess ethyl thioglycolate is then eliminated by heating under a vacuum.

The remaining chlorinated compound is hydrolized in a reactor provided with powerful agitating means. 150g (1.5 moles) of 40% NaOH is added to 420g (1 mole) of the resulting ester. The liberated alcohol, plus part of the water introduced, is distilled until a temperature of 120.degree. to 125.degree.C is attained. This temperature is maintained for 4 hours and a half. The percentage of hydrolysis is then of the order of 95%. The result is a soap in the form of a stiff paste containing about 80% active material.

In order to obtain the corresponding sulfoxide, this soap is redissolved in 250 cc of water so as to render it sufficiently fluid to oxidize. The thioether is then oxidized with hydrogen peroxide at 130 volumes in stoichiometric proportions in the presence of a catalyst consisting of 1.5 cc of acetic acid per 100g of active materials.

The resulting product is a white cream containing about 50% of the active components.

Preparation of the compound responding to the formula: ##EQU12## in which R represents an oleyl radical and n has a statistical average value of 3.

An epoxide is prepared from the compound obtained by reacting 4 moles of epichlorohydrin and oleic alcohol, according to the method indicated in Example 2. 240g of the epoxide produced in this manner is added drop by drop to 53g of ethyl thioglycolate and 2 cc of triethylamine at 110.degree.C under nitrogen atmosphere. A quantitative reaction is obtained at the end of 5 hours.

285g of the chlorinated ester previously obtained is added in 30 minutes, under a nitrogen atmosphere, at 180.degree.C, to 115g of potassium acetate in 285g of dipropylene glycol. Heating is continued for 4 hours. The resulting salt is filtered at 100.degree.C and rinsed with dipropylene glycol. Distillation under a pressure of 15 mm of mercury up to 190.degree.C follows.

The residue is redissolved in 250 cc of absolute alcohol and 750 mg of CH.sub.3 ONa. After leaving it overnight at room temperature, the resulting ethyl acetate and alcohol are distilled, ending up under vacuum at 180.degree.C.

The product is again dissolved in a little alcohol and the ester is saponified with a stoichiometric quantity of 40% sodium hydroxide. Distillation of the alcohol leaves a paste which is soluble in pure water and in concentrated aqueous sodium hydroxide solutions. Aqueous solutions of this product are foam-forming.

The corresponding magnesium salt obtained by double decomposition between the sodium salt and magnesium chloride in an alcoholic medium is perfectly soluble in water.

Preparation of the compound responding to the formula:

The reaction consists in adding thioglycolic acid to allyl ether and 2-hydroxy-3-lauryloxy propyl. The latter compound is prepared by condensing lauric alcohol on allyl-glycidyl ether in the presence of sodium methylate in the following manner:

115g of allyl-glycidyl-ether is added, drop by drop, in 20 minutes, to 186g of lauric alcohol and 1.2g of sodium methylate, which have been heated to 120.degree. to 140.degree.C. The mixture is then heated to 160.degree.C for 4 hours. Distillation of the crude product obtained in this manner separates the allyl ether and the 2-hydroxy-3-lauryloxy propyl. This is distilled at 150.degree. to 170.degree.C under a pressure of 1 mm of mercury. 60g (0.2 mole) of ethylene derivative and 10g (0.2 mole) of thioglycolic acid are mixed and heated to 100.degree.C for 8 to 9 hours. About 90% of the mixture reacts.

The acid index indicates that the product is partially esterified. It is first neutralized and then saponified with a stoichiometric quantity of 40% NaOH in the presence of alcohol. After distillation of the alcohol, the yield is an almost colorless wax, which is soluble in water.

Preparation of the compound responding to the formula:

As in example 4, the product is prepared by adding thioglycolic acid to the corresponding ethylene derivative. This ethylene derivative is prepared by adding lauryl mercaptan, drop by drop, at 100.degree. to 110.degree.C to an excess (200%) of allyl-glycidyl ether while bubbling in nitrogen, and in the presence of triethylamine, which constitutes 0.5% of the reaction mass. This addition takes 30 minutes. The reaction is almost instantaneous.

The excess allyl-glycidyl-ether is eliminated. Then the desired ethylene derivative is distilled at 185.degree.C under 0.5 mm of mercury. A stoichiometric quantity (7.2g) of thioglycolic acid is added drop by drop, to 28g of the resulting compound. After this addition, the mixture is heated for 5 minutes at 100.degree.C. The acid which has not reacted is eliminated under vacuum. On cooling, the condensation product crystallizes. This is then rinsed in petroleum ether and an attractive white powder results.

The sodium soap is obtained by neutralizing this powder with 50% sodium hydroxide in an alcoholic medium and precipitation with acetone.

Preparation of the compound to the formula: ##EQU13##

In order to prepare the disulfoxide, 12 g of the product obtained in acid form in example 5, is dissolved by heating it in 5 cc of acetic acid, and 5.2 cc of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is added drop by drop at the rate of 11.2 moles per liter. The temperature is kept between 30.degree. and 40.degree.C. After a night at room temperature no more peroxides remain. The acetic acid is distilled off, the remainder neutralized with 50% NaOH in alcohol and precipitation caused by adding acetone.

This yields the desired product in the form of a white powder which dissolves readily in water.

Preparation of the compound responding to the formula: ##EQU14## in which R represents an aliphatic radical containing 12 to 14 carbon atoms and n has a statistical average value of 0.5.

400g (1.33 moles) of the epoxide prepared as in Example 2 is added over 30 minutes at 120.degree.C to 151g of monochloroacetic acid in the presence of 11 cc of triethylamine. It is then heated for 3 hours at 150.degree.C. After cooling to 60.degree.C, 127.5 g of sodium hydroxide flakes is added. The reaction is exothermic. This temperature is maintained until all the sodium hydroxide has reacted. 84g of sodium hydroxide flakes and 101g of monochloracetic acid each are divided into three parts and added alternately.

The mixture is introduced into 1500 cc of water and 400g of sulfuric acid at half-normal strength is added. On heating to 100.degree.C the acid salts out. 528g of the resulting acid is redissolved in 150g of alcohol at 96.degree.C and sufficient 40% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution is added to neutralize and hydrolize the organic chlorine. The alcohol and part of the water is distilled off until a temperature of 120.degree.C is reached. This temperature is maintained for 4 hours and the hydrolysis is 96% complete.

On cooling, the yield is a hard product, which can be molded, but is a little fragile.

Preparation of the compound responding to the formula:

in which R represents a stearyl radical, and m and n have statistical average values of 5.25 and 1 respectively.

52 grams (0.55 mole) of monochloroacetic acid and 7 cc of triethylamine are heated to 100.degree. to 110.degree.C and in an hour and 30 minutes, 308gr of the corresponding epoxide responding to the following formula is then added:

this epoxide is prepared in the following manner.

6.25 of a boron fluoride acetic acid complex is added to one mole of molten stearyl alcohol which has been dehydrated by heating under a 15 mm pressure in a boiling water bath, and 5.25 moles of propylene oxide is then added drop by drop. The reaction is exothermic and takes place at 75.degree. to 80.degree.C. The addition of the propylene oxide takes from 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The epichlorhydrin is condensed immediately after oxypropylenation, at 75.degree. to 80.degree.C over a period of 30 minutes. The resulting polychlorinated polyether has a hydroxyl index of 90.

An equal weight of tertiobutyl alcohol is added to this polychlorinated polyether and in 10 minutes, 150g of 40% sodium hydroxide is also added, and the mixture heated to 65.degree. for 30 minutes. The minimum amount of water required to solubilize the resulting salt, and the aqueous phase separated by decantation. The organic phase is dried on sodium sulfate, and filtered. The tertiobutyl alcohol is distilled off. The yield is an epoxide which titration indicates to comprise 1.62 m.e.g./g of oxirane groups.

This is heated for 6 hours at between 120.degree. and 160.degree.C. 42g of sodium hydroxide flakes are added at a temperature of 60.degree.C and heated 5 hours at 60.degree. to 80.degree.C. 76g of sodium hydroxide flakes and 89g of monochloroacetic acid are each divided into three fractions and added alternately to the mixture.

This is then acidified with 41.5 cc of sulfuric acid, while adding 800 cc of water and heating and stirring for an hour in a water bath. The carboxylic acid salts out perfectly, and is separated and vacuum dried.

The corresponding sodium salt is prepared by adding to this salt in an alcoholic medium as much 40% sodium hydroxide as is necessary to salify the carboxylic function and hydrolize the remaining chlorine. The mixture is then heated at reflux for 10 minutes, the alcohol distilled off, and the mixture heated to 125.degree.C for 4 and a half hours, as in Example 2.

Preparation of the compound responding to the formula: ##EQU15## in which R, m and n have the same significance as in the preceding example.

This is prepared from the sodium salt obtained as set forth above. 0.2 mole of this salt is dissolved in 50 cc of water and 50 cc of alcohol. At 60.degree., 40 gr of MgCl.sub.2 (100% excess), dissolved in 100 cc of water, is added. The mixture is heated at 70.degree.C for an hour and a half and then poured into 700 to 800 cc of water which has first been heated to 90.degree.C.

This aqueous phase is drawn off, and drying yields the magnesium salt, which takes the form of a brown paste. The percentage of magnesium in the product and in the mother liquor is about 80%. This product may be used as an emulsifier.

The following composition was prepared:

The pH of the composition is at least equal to 7. It is limpid, has valuable foaming properties, and may be used in a quantity of about 20 cc as a shampoo for the hair.

The following composition was prepared:

The composition has a pH of 7, is limpid, and has valuable foaming properties. It may be used, in a quantity of about 20 cc, as a shampoo for the hair.

The following composition was prepared:

The composition has a pH of 7, is limpid, and has valuable foaming properties. About 20 cc serves as an excellent shampoo for the hair.

The following composition was prepared:

The composition has a pH equal to 7, is limpid, and has valuable foaming properties. 20 cc makes an excellent shampoo for the hair.

The following composition was prepared:

The composition has a pH of 7, is limpid, and has valuable foaming properties. 20 cc serves as an excellent shampoo for the hair.

The following composition was prepared:

The composition has a pH of 7, is limpid, and has valuable foaming properties. 20 cc serves as an excellent shampoo for the hair.

The following dyeing composition was prepared:

In order to do this, 1.65g of bis-methyl-[1,5(.gamma.-trimethyl-ammonium)-propylaminoanthraquinone] sulfate is dissolved in the minimum possible amount of water and adjusted to pH 7 with monoethanolamine. Into this solution 100 g/liters of a solution of ##EQU16## is poured drop by drop from a burette. Beginning with the first drop, a deep red product begins to precipitate. The course of this precipitation is tested by drops on filter paper and it was found that the precipitation increases in proportion to the quantity of the product responding to the above formula introduced, while the solution clears. The maximum precipitation occurs when 20 cc of the surface active solution was used. The solution becomes colorless. A slight excess of the product according to the above formula produces a tendency to redissolve the precipitate. The resulting product was dissolved in the minimum quantity of a 20% solution of isooctylphenylpolyethoxyethanol. The course of this redissolution was followed by depositing drops of the solution on filter paper using a burette. It required 23 cc of a 20% isoocytylphenylpolyethoxyethanol solution to completely redissolve this product. The pH was adjusted to 8 with monoethanolamine, the solution was increased to 100g, and no reprecipitation was noted. It was found that this product contained about 2.2 molecules of the product responding to the formula: ##EQU17## for each molecule of dye. (This is very close to a stoichiometric proportion, since bis-methyl[1,5(.gamma.-trimethyl-ammonium)-propylaminoanthraquinone] sulfate is dibasic).

This composition was applied to chestnut hair. The product was a good foam former. It is left on the hair for 15 minutes. The hair is then washed and rinsed. A strong mahogany shade results.

Following the method outlined in Example 16, an anion-cation product was prepared, utilizing bis-methyl[1,5(.gamma.-trimethyl-ammonium)-propylaminoanthraquinone] sulfate. In this manner the following composition is prepared:

In this example, the anion is present in an excess of 8 to 10% over stoichiometric proportions. Applied as in Example 16, this composition makes it possible to obtain a very beautiful mahogany color.

The following composition was prepared:

The resulting product was in the form of a partially soluble paste, even though there was not a complete precipitation resulting in a colorless solution. But the quantity of anion producing the maximum precipitation was carefully determined from the point at which a slight excess of anion redissolves the product. The excess of anion over stoichiometric proportions is 10%. The product foams well.

The composition was applied to chestnut hair and left thereon for 15 minutes after which the hair was rinsed and washed. A deep violine shade results.

The following composition was prepared:

In preparing the active product it is difficult to detect any precipitation since this product is very soluble. A stoichiometric quantity of anion was therefore used.

When applied as in Example 18 this composition also produces a Violine shade, but one a little less red than in the preceding example.

The following composition was prepared following the same procedure as in Example 16:

In this case the anion is in 20% excess of stoichiometric proportions. The composition is very foam-forming.

It was applied to chestnut hair and left thereon for 15 minutes, after which the hair was rinsed and shampooed. The result was a very strong mahogany color.