Detergent compositions containing pyridinol-N-oxide compositions

1. A detergent composition comprising:

a. at least about 0.2 ppm of ferric iron;

b. from about 0.05% by weight to about 2% by weight of a substituted or unsubstituted 2-pyridinol N-oxide compound, a tautomer thereof, or a salt thereof; and from about 5% by weight to about 90% by weight of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, amine oxide, and mixtures thereof;

wherein the detergent composition is free of bleach, and further wherein a mole ratio of said substituted or unsubstituted pyridinol-N-oxide compound to said ferric iron is at least about 3:1.

2. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein said substituted or unsubstituted 2-pyridinol N-oxide compound comprises the following structure:

wherein each R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of

H, Cl, Br, I, F, NO, NO 2 , (CH 2 ) n G, and mixtures thereof, wherein each G is independently selected from the group consisting of (O) m SO 3 M, (O) m CO 2 M, (O) m C(O)(R 2 ), (O) m C(O)N(R 2 ) 2 , (O) m CN, (O) m (R 2 ), N(R 2 ) 2 , and mixtures thereof, wherein

each m is 0 or 1,

each n is an integer from 0 to 4,

each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H and a substituted or unsubstituted C 1 -C 12 organic group,

and each M is independently selected from the group consisting of

R 2 , wherein R 2 is defined as above,

N + (R 2 ) 4 ,

and 1/q M′ q + wherein M′ is selected from the group consisting of

 an alkali metal of charge q and

 an alkaline earth metal of charge q,

and wherein any two vicinal R 1 may be taken together to form another five- or six-membered aromatic or aliphatic ring optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, F, NO, NO 2 , CN, (CH 2 ) n G, and mixtures thereof.

3. The detergent composition of claim 2 , wherein each R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, and (CH 2 ) n G, wherein G is independently selected from the group consisting of (O) m SO 3 M, (O) m CO 2 M, (O) m C(O)(R 2 ), (O) m CN, and (O) m (R 2 ), wherein each m is 0 or 1.

4. The detergent composition of claim 2 , wherein each R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, SO 3 M, and CO 2 M and wherein no more than one R 1 is SO 3 M or CO 2 M.

5. The detergent composition of claim 1 , wherein said substituted or unsubstituted 2-pyridinol-N-oxide compound has a molecular weight of less than about 400 daltons.

6. The detergent composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises from about 0.15% by weight to about 0.5% by weight of said substituted or unsubstituted 2-pyridinol-N-oxide compound.

7. The detergent composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises from about 5% to about 70% by weight surfactant.

8. The detergent composition of claim 7 , wherein said composition comprises a mixture of anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant, wherein the weight ratio of anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant is from about 10:90 to about 90:10.

9. The detergent composition of claim 8 , wherein the weight ratio of anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant comprising said detergent composition ranges from about 30:70 to about 70:30.

10. The detergent composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of polymers, builders, additional chelating agents, dye transfer inhibiting agents, dispersants, enzymes, enzyme stabilizers, catalytic materials, polymeric dispersing agents, clay soil removal agents, anti-redeposition agents, brighteners, hueing agents, suds suppressors, dyes, perfume, perfume delivery systems, structurant, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, pigments, and mixtures thereof.

11. The detergent composition of claim 10 , wherein said composition comprises a phosphonate chelating agent.

12. A method of treating a stained fabric comprising the step of applying the detergent composition of claim 1 to a stained portion of said fabric.

13. A detergent composition comprising:

a. at least about 0.2 ppm of ferric iron;

b. from about 0.05% by weight to about 2% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of: 2-hydroxypyridine-1-oxide; 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 1-oxide; 6-hydroxy-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1-oxide; 2-hydroxy-4-pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1-oxide; 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid, 6-hydroxy-, 1-oxide; 6-hydroxy-3-pyridinesulfonic acid, 1-oxide; a tautomer thereof; a salt thereof; and mixtures thereof; and from about 5% by weight to about 90% by weight of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, amine oxide, and mixtures thereof;

wherein the detergent composition is free of bleach, and further wherein a mole ratio of said compound to said ferric iron is at least about 3:1.

14. A detergent composition comprising:

a. at least about 0.2 ppm of ferric iron;

b. from about 0.05% by weight to about 2% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of: 1-Hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinone; 1,6-dihydro-1-hydroxy-6-oxo-3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid; 1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2-oxo-4-Pyridinecarboxylic acid; 1,6-dihydro-1-hydroxy-6-oxo-2-Pyridinecarboxylic acid; 1-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2(1H)-Pyridinone; 6-(cyclohexylmethyl)-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(1H)-Pyridinone; 1-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyl-2(1H)-Pyridinone; 1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2-pyridone monoethanolamine; 1-hydroxy-6-(octyloxy)-2(1H)-Pyridinone; 1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-cyclohexyl-2-pyridinone ethanolamine salt; 1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-cyclohexyl-2-pyridinone; 6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2-oxo-4-Pyridinecarboxylic acid,methyl ester; 1-hydroxy-5-nitro-2(1H)-Pyridinone; a tautomer thereof; a salt thereof; and mixtures thereof; and from about 5% by weight to about 90% by weight of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, amine oxide, and mixtures thereof;

wherein the detergent composition is free of bleach, and further wherein a mole ratio of said compound to said ferric iron is at least about 3:1.