Use of diphenylmethane derivatives as tyrosinase inhibitors

1. A topical tyrosinase inhibitor composition comprising a compound of the Formula 1 in an amount effective for skin lightening in humans, hair lightning in humans, combating age spots in human skin, or inhibiting browning in foods:

where:

R1 is hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-4 C atoms, OH or halogen,

R2 is a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms,

R3 is methyl, and

R4 and R5 independently of one another are hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms, OH or halogen, and

at least one member selected from the group consisting of a fragrance, a compound for care and/or cleansing of skin and/or hair, and a UV absorbing agent.

2. A process for skin lightening in humans and combating age spots in human skin comprising administering to a person in need thereof an effective amount of the tyrosinase inhibitor composition of claim 1 .

3. A process for inhibiting browning of foods comprising applying to the food an effective amount of the tyrosinase inhibitor composition of claim 1 .

4. The topical tyrosinase inhibitor composition of claim 1 , wherein said fragrance is included in an amount effective to provide a sensory effect and said compound of Formula 1 is present in an amount of about 5 to 50% by mass.

5. The topical tyrosinase inhibitor composition of claim 1 , wherein said UV absorbing filter is included in an amount effective to provide UV protection of at least greater than 2.

6. Fragrance composition, comprising

a) a fragrance in an amount that has a sensory effect,

b) one or more compounds of the Formula 1 in an amount that has an effect of inhibiting tyrosinase

where:

R1 is hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-4 C atoms, OH or halogen,

R2 is a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms,

R3 is methyl, and

R4 and R5 independently of one another are hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms, OH or halogen.

7. Cosmetic formulation, comprising

one or more compounds for care and/or cleansing of (a) skin and/or (b) hair and

one or more compounds of the Formula 1 in an amount that has the effect of inhibiting tyrosinase

where:

R1 is hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-4 C atoms, OH or halogen,

R2 is a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms,

R3 is methyl, and

R4 and R5 independently of one another are hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms, OH or halogen.

8. Sunscreen formulation, comprising

an effective amount of a UV filter, so that the protection factor of the sunscreen formulation is greater than 2, and

one or more compounds of the Formula 1 in an amount that has the effect of inhibiting tyrosinase

where:

R1 is hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-4 C atoms, OH or halogen,

R2 is a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms,

R3 is methyl, and

R4 and R5 independently of one another are hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms, OH or halogen.

9. A process for preparing an agent for treatment (a) against skin and hair browning, (b) for combating age spots and/or (c) for the inhibition of the undesired browning of foods by adding to said agent a compound of the Formula 1

where:

R1 is hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-4 C atoms, OH or halogen,

R2 is a straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms,

R3 methyl, and

R4 and R5 independently of one another are hydrogen, methyl, straight-chain or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl having 2-5 C atoms, OH or halogen.