| abstract |
Disclosed are alkyl sulfoacetate compositions comprising a sulfonated ester of the formula:RO(CH2CHR1O)nCOCH2SO3Mwhere R represents straight chain alkyl having from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms; R1 is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; n is 0, or an integer of from 1 to 20; and M represents a cation; the composition being substantially free from monochloroacetate salts and monochloroacetic acid. These compositions are prepared by reacting an alkyl chloroester of the formula RO(CH2CHR1O)nCOCH2Cl where R, R1 and n are as defined above with an excess of sodium sulfite in the presence of a sulfitation catalyst at a temperature of at least about 75 DEG C. Also disclosed are oral care compositions comprising these surfactant compositions. |