ABSTRACT
The conversion of the world's heavy-duty detergent granules to higher-density, lower-dosage forms represents a major opportunity for the development and deployment of fabric bleaching systems. The concept of catalysis of bleaching is very attractive to the formulator of compact detergent granules. A frequently studied approach to catalysis of the bleaching reaction involves the use of catalysts which are complexes of transition metal ions with organic ligands. The molecular design requirements for a transition-metal catalyzed bleach system are significant in terms of both scope and degree of difficulty. The volume of patent literature describing transition-metal complexes as catalysts for bleaching is extremely large. That light can be used for the purposes of removing stains from fabric has been known for centuries, indeed, photobleaching in the form of sunlight may be the oldest bleaching process known. A preformed peracid is immediately available for bleaching upon dissolution of the granular detergent.
