Abstract: The alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol ammonium salts of polymeric acetal carboxylates are stable detergent builders under laundry use conditions but depolymerize at lower pH, making the polymer fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams. Such polymeric acetal carboxylates can now be made by an improved process which includes the steps of bringing together in a reaction zone under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator, and adding an alkyl vinyl ether to the resulting polymer in the presence of a solvent having a dielectric constant of at least 15, such as an alkyl nitrile and a haloacetic acid catalyst, such as trifluoroacetic acid, to stabilize the polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution. The preferred solvent is acetonitrile.

Abstract: The alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol ammonium salts of polymeric acetal carboxylates are stable detergent builders under laundry use conditions but depolymerize in mildly acidic media, making the polymer fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams. Such polymeric acetal carboxylates can now be made by a process which comprises bringing together in a reaction zone under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator, and adding to the resulting polymer an alkyl vinyl ether and an organoaluminum compound to stabilize the resulting polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution. The preferred alkyl vinyl ether is ethyl vinyl ether, and the preferred organoaluminum compounds are alkyl aluminum halides and trialkyl aluminum.

Abstract: Oral compositions such as mouth washes, toothpastes, foods, chewing gums and the like containing certain alkyl-oxybis(propanedioic acid) compounds inhibit the formation of dental calculus.

Abstract: Oral compositions such as mouth washes, toothpastes, other oral hygiene products, foods, beverages, chewing gums and the like containing certain alkylenedioxybis(alkyl-propanedioic acid) compounds inhibit the formation of dental calculus.

Abstract: Oral compositions such as mouth washes, toothpastes, foods, chewing gums and the like containing certain carboxyalkoxy-hydroxyalkyl-propanedioic acids and/or salts thereof inhibit formation of dental calculus.

Abstract: Oral compositions such as mouth washes, toothpastes, foods, chewing gums and the like containing certain carboxyalkoxy-propanedioic acid compounds inhibit formation of dental calculus.