Abstract: A new process for the manufacture of cyano-substituted stilbene compounds, new stilbene compounds as well as their use as fluorescent brighteners or as intermediates for the manufacture of fluorescent brighteners are provided.

Abstract: Novel stilbene compounds of the formula ##STR1## in which A is the radical ##STR2## in which R.sub.1 is hydrogen or chlorine and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or alkyl, Z is hydrogen, chlorine or phenyl and R.sub.3 is hydrogen, alkyl or chlorine, as well as their use in a process for optically brightening organic material are described.

Abstract: The invention provides a new process for the manufacture of aromatic compounds which at least once contain a benzene ring of an aromatic carbocyclic ring system bonded by an ethylene double bond in conjugation with a further aromatic ring system, i.e. contain the stilbene skeleton or stilbene analogon as central structural element, as well as certain classes of new compounds of this type. The process is characterized by the reaction of a Schiff base of an aromatic aldehyde with an aromatic carbocyclic six-membered ring compound which contains one to four methyl groups bonded to ring carbon atoms of a benzene ring, which furthermore contains aromatic rings which are exclusively six-membered carbocyclic rings, and wherein those benzene rings whose methyl groups are to be caused to react are free of other substituents which contain atoms wich are replaceable by alkali metal. The reaction is carried out in the presence of (a) a strongly basic alkali compound and (b) an N-dialkyl-acylamide as solvent.