538,407. Wetting agents ; sulphohalides; selenohalides ; tellurohalides. COLGATEPALMOLIVE-PEET CO. Jan. 30, 1940, Nos. 1829 and 1830. Convention dates, June 29, 1939, and Oct. 21, 1939. [Classes 2 (iii) and 15 (ii)] [Also in Group III] An aliphatic hydroxy compound containing at least six carbon atoms is treated with chlorine and sulphur dioxide whereby sulphochlorides, which may be chlorinated in the chain are produced. On hydrolysis of the products, which may be purified according to the process of Specification 538,374, sulphonates are produced which have wetting, emulsifying, foaming and cleansing properties. In examples : (1) cetyl alcohol is treated with sulphur dioxide and chlorine in the proportion of 2:1 ; the product is heated with aqueous caustic soda, cooled, and extracted with ether to remove unsaponifiable material; (2) cetyl alcohol is treated with sulphur dioxide and chlorine and the sulphochloride purified by means of liquid sulphur dioxide and hexane. Decyl and hexyl alcohols are similarly treated in other examples. The process may be conducted in a continuous manner, the alcohol or solution thereof passing down a packed column and meeting an upward stream of sulphurdioxide and chlorine. The product may then be subjected to a series of continuous processes, namely, bleaching with chlorine, washing, hydrolysis, extraction with gasoline and drying. Bleaching may take place after the hydrolysis with alkali, dissolved chlorine being swept out by means of nitrogen, air, carbon dioxide or flue gases. The treatment of aryl, myricyl, dichlorcetyl, ricinoleyl,hydroxyocetyl and oleyl alcohols, 2-hydroxydodecane and their glycol and glycerol ethers is mentioned. The process may be effected in the presence of olefines, e.g. tetra isobutylene, cetene and polymers thereof, paraffins, e.g. hexane, paraffin wax, slack wax, lubricating oil, kerosene, gas oil, cyclic compound, e.g. methylcyclohexane, cyclohexene, sterols, e.g. phytosterol, resins, fatty acids and their mono- and polyhydric alcohol esters such as rosin, stearic, tallow, tali oil and coconut oil monoglycerides, cetylchloride and olefine halides. The sulphonic acids produced by hydrolysis may be converted into salts of potassium, magnesium, lithium, ammonia, ethanolamines, aminotrimethylolmethane, amyl amine, aniline and pyridine. The products may be used in association with soap, rosinates, higher, alcohol sulphates, monoglyceride sulphates, sulphonated mineral oils, Turkey red oil, lecithin, glycerol amines, ethanolamines, sodium carbonate, silicate and phosphate, borax, hexametaphosphoric and pyrophosphoric acid and their alkali metal and amine salts and alkylesters, boric, citric and tartaric acid, dyes, lakes, pigments, silica, pumice, feldspar, chalk, infusorial earth, bentonite, talc, starch, carbontetrachloride, trichlorethylene, glycerine, glycol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, phenol, pine oil, cyclohexanol, tetrahydronaphthalene, mineral oils, deodorants, fats, oils, fatty acids, vitamins, waxes, gums, glue, resin, germicides, phenolmercurychloride, phenylmercury chloride and nitrate, aluminium chloride, naphthoquinone, adrenalin, sodium sulphate, acetate, citrate, tartrate, perborate, bicarbonate, hypochlorite, thiosulphate and hyposulphate. The resulting composition and products may be used in cleaning agents, cements, antiseptics, water softeners, disinfectants, water paints, polishes, sizes, glues, adhesives, e.g. shellac and casein compositions, tooth and mouth detergents, shampoos, cosmetics, laundry blue, mercerizing, dyeing, lubricating and discharging compositions, depilatories, dust-preventing and fire extinguishing compositions, radiator and drain cleaners, anti-freezing, anti-fogging and anticorrosion compositions, wood impregnants, electrolytic baths, ore flotation and etching compositions, tanning and fat liquors, photographic solutions, paint and stain removers, dry cleaners, fuel and lubricating compositions, petroleum de-emulsifiers, lypolyters and germicides. Salts with different cations may be produced by treating the products with soluble salts of inorganic acids having the desired cation in the presence of solvents such as acetone, butyl alcohol, dioxane and monoglycerides. The sulphochlorides may be used for the preparation of sulphonamides, sulphonic acids or sulphuric esters. Specification 117,824, [Class 2 (iii)], also is referred to. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also the substitution of chlorine by any halogen and sulphur dioxide by selenium dioxide and/or tellurium dioxide. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.