Abstract: The invention relates to reaction products of glycols, diglycols, higher glycols or glycerol with &agr;-hydroxycarboxylic acids in a molar ratio of 1:2 or higher, especially conforming to the general formula (V) where R is hydrogen or a C1-3 alkyl group, preferably methyl, nx is from 1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 3, n is 1 or 2 and when n=1 the radical R″ is C1-4 alkylene, preferably ethylene, x is defined as x′ and y is not less than 1, preferably from 1 to 5, especially 1 or 2, and when n=2 the radical R″ is a glycerol radical, x is defined as x″ and y is 1.

Abstract: A process for shifting the equilibrium of disperse dyestuffs between an aqueous liquor and a textile substrate comprising adding to the aqueous liquor a compound of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently, are hydrogen or C.sub.4-12 -alkyl, provided that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not both hydrogen;R is a mixed chain containing from 7 to 31 ethyleneoxy and 3 to 27 propyleneoxy units,with the proviso that R contains at most a total of 34 units.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of formula I ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.4, independently, are hydrogen, a non-chromophoric second order substituent, or alkyl or alkenyl unsubstituted or substituted by a non-chromophoric group,R.sub.2 and R.sub.5, independently, are hydrogen or alkyl or alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by a non-chromophoric group,R.sub.3 and R.sub.6, independently, are hydrogen, alkyl, carboxyl or a non-chromophoric esterified carboxyl group,or R.sub.2, together with R.sub.3, and/or R.sub.5 together with R.sub.6, signify an alkylene bridge,R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, independently, signify hydrogen or a non-chromophoric substituent,or, when R.sub.7 is in the 3-position and/or R.sub.8 in the 3' position, R.sub.7 together with R.sub.2, and/or R.sub.8 together with R.sub.5 signify an alkylene bridge,with the proviso that no more than one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 and no more than one of R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 signify hydrogen,their production and use as optical brightening agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds of formula I ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.4, independently, are hydrogen, a non-chromophoric second order substituent, or alkyl or alkenyl unsubstituted or substituted by a non-chromophoric group,R.sub.2 and R.sub.5, independently, are hydrogen or alkyl or alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by a non-chromophoric group,R.sub.3 and R.sub.6, independently, are hydrogen, alkyl, carboxyl or a non-chromophoric esterified carboxyl group, orR.sub.2, together with R.sub.3, and/or R.sub.5 together with R.sub.6, signify an alkylene bridge,R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, independently, signify hydrogen or a non-chromophoric substituent, or, whenR.sub.7 is in the 3-position and/or R.sub.8 in the 3' position, R.sub.7 together with R.sub.2, and/or R.sub.8 together with R.sub.5 signify an alkylene bridge,With the proviso that no more than one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 and no more than one of R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 signify hydrogen, their production and use as optical brightening agents.