Abstract: To provide a novel ether compound which is useful such as an oil agent and a surfactant having the formula (I): R.sup.1 --O--(AO).sub.n --R.sup.2, wherein R.sup.1 is an alpha-branched alkyl group or an alkyl group having two or more branched chains or a cycloalkyl having 5 to 7 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is an alkyl or alkenyl each being either branched or straight, each having 10 to 30 carbon atoms, A is an alkylene having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, n is a number from 0 to 30, A's being same as or different from one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amine derivative represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 mean individually an alkyl or alkenyl group which may have --OH and has 1-24 carbon atoms, A denotes an alkylene or alkenylene group which may have at least one --OH, --COOH or --SO.sub.3 H and has 1-6 carbon atoms, y.sup.1 is --COOH, --SO.sub.3 H or --OSO.sub.3 H, y.sup.2 means --OH, --OSO.sub.3 H or --OCO--A--COOH, n stands for a number of 0 or 1, and p is an integer of 1-8, or a salt or quaternized product thereof, and a detergent composition containing such a compound. This compound is low in irritativeness to the skin and hair and excellent in foamability, and can give a pleasant feeling to the user's skin and the like.

Abstract: Ether compounds, which are useful as solvents, cosmetics, detergents, lubricants, emulsifiers and so on, are produced by reacting (a) a hydroxy compound with a carbonyl compound of (b) a carbonyl compound under hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of a catalyst with ease and at a low cost. The reaction is carried out while removing out produced water by using a dehydrating agent during the reaction; by distilling off the water by azeotropic dehydration and the like; or by blowing gases such as hydrogen gas to flow through the reaction system.

Abstract: An amide represented by the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are C1-C24 alkyl, etc.; B is C2-C10 alkylene, etc.; A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are C1-C6 alkylene, etc.; Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are C1-C4 alkyl, etc., and X.sup.1 is halogen; or a salt of the amide and detergent compositions containing the amide or salt are mild to the skin or hair, provide a pleasant sensation to the skin or hair, and have excellent latherability and emulsion stability. These compounds are useful as components of various detergents and cosmetic compositions, emulsifiers, and conditioners.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amine derivative represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 mean individually an alkyl or alkenyl group which may have --OH and has 1-24 carbon atoms, A denotes an alkylene or alkenylene group which may have at least one --OH, --COOH or --SO.sub.3 H and has 1-6 carbon atoms, Y.sup.1 is --COOH, --SO.sub.3 H or --OSO.sub.3 H, Y.sup.2 means --OH, --OSO.sub.3 H or --OCO--A--COOH, n stands for a number of 0 or 1, and p is an integer of 1-8, or a salt or quaternized product thereof, and a detergent composition containing such a compound. This compound is low in irritativeness to the skin and hair and excellent in foamability, and can give a pleasant feeling to the user's skin and the like.

Abstract: An amide represented by the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are C1-C24 alkyl, etc.; B is C2-C10 alkylene, etc.; A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 are C1-C6 alkylene, etc.; Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are C1-C4 alkyl, etc., and X.sup.1 is halogen; or a salt of the amide and detergent compositions containing the amide or salt are mild to the skin or hair, provide a pleasant sensation to the skin or hair, and have excellent latherability and emulsion stability. These compounds are useful as components of various detergents and cosmetic compositions, emulsifiers, and conditioners.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amine compound represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent individually a linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.24 alkyl or alkenyl group which may be substituted by a hydroxyl group, X.sup.1 represents a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkylene or alkenylene group which may be substituted by a hydroxyl, sulfonic or carboxyl group, Y.sup.1 represents a carboxyl or sulfonic group, or a sulfuric acid residue, Y.sup.2 represents a hydroxyl group, a sulfuric acid residue or a group --OCO--X.sup.1 --COOH, Z represents a sulfoalkyl group or a group obtained by removing an amino group from an amino acid or a salt thereof, and n represents a number of 0 or 1, or a salt or quaternized product thereof, an intermediate useful for the preparation thereof, and detergent compositions containing such an amine compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 2-hydroxypropanediamine derivative represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 mean individually a linear or branched C.sub.6 -C.sub.36 alkyl or alkenyl group, X denotes a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkylene or alkenylene group which may be substituted by at least one hydroxyl, sulfonic or carboxyl group and has 1-6 carbon atoms, y.sup.1 is a sulfonic group, a sulfuric acid residue or a carboxyl group, y.sup.2 means a hydroxyl group, a sulfuric acid residue or ##STR2## and n stands for 0 or 1, or a salt or quaternized product thereof, and a detergent composition containing such a compound. This compound is low in irritativeness to the skin and hair and excellent in foamability, and can give a pleasant feeling to the user's skin and the like.

Abstract: A novel phosphobetaine is disclosed. This compound is very excellence in that it exerts a conditioning effect of imparting a good feel to the skin or hair, is excellent in humidifying properties, is available at a low price, and thus it is highly usable in detergents, cosmetics, a bathing preparation and the like. A detergent composition, a cosmetic, and a bathing preparation each containing the phosphobetaine are also disclosed.