Abstract: A process for the preparation of sulphonated distyryl-biphenyl compounds of formula (1), in which R1 and R2, independently, are hydrogen, C1-C5-alkyl, C1-C5-alkyl or halogen, and M represents Li, K, an alkaline earth metal or ammonium, characterized by, firstly, reacting a compound of formula (2) with a di- or trialkylamine containing 6-12 carbon atoms in each alkyl group, in a two-phase system consisting of strong aqueous mineral acid and a water immisicible organic solvent and, secondly, reacting the resulting lypophilic ammonium salt with LiOH, KOH, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, ammonia, a mono-, di- or trialkylamine or a tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, all containing 1-4 carbon atoms in each alkyl group; mono-, di- or tri(C2-C4)alkanolamine, morpholine, piperdine or pyrrolidine.

Abstract: A process for the production of compounds useful as fluorescent whitening agents of formula: ##STR1## in which X and Y, are as defined herein and n is 1 or 2, comprises A) diazotising one mole of an amine of formula: ##STR2## (2A) to produce a diazonium compound of the formula: ##STR3## (2) in which G.sub.1 is a counter ion; and diazotising one mole of an amine of formula: ##STR4## (3A) to produce a diazonium compound having the formula: ##STR5## (3); and B) reacting one mole of a divinyl compound having the formula: ##STR6## (4) with one mole of a compound having the formula (2) and with one mole of a compound having the formula (3), in the presence of an inorganic or organic palladium salt, or a mixture thereof, as catalyst-precursor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of a compound of formula: ##STR1## in which X and Y, independently, are hydrogen, halogen, NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3, CN, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, COO--C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, CO--C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, NH--(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl), N(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl).sub.2, NH(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-OH), N(C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl-OH).sub.2, COOH or SO.sub.3 H or an ester or amide thereof, or COOM or SO.sub.3 M in which M is Na, K, Ca, Mg, ammonium, mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylammonium, mono-, di- or tri-hydroxyalkylammonium or ammonium that is di- or tri-substituted with a mixture of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydroxyalkyl groups;Z is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy, CF.sub.3, halogen (F, Cl, Br, I), SO.sub.3 H or SO.sub.