Abstract: A process in which disubstituted ethane sulfonic compounds are employed as electroplating auxiliaries in electroplating. The compounds for use in combination with the claimed process have the general formula: ##STR1## wherein, A represents a pyridinium radical ##STR2## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 denote hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, together with the pyridinium radical, form a condensed six-membered aromatic ring; or,A represents a mercapto radical of the formula --S--R.sub.4, in which R.sub.4 denotes hydrogen or the group: ##STR3## and R.sub.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Also included within the scope of the present invention are alkali or ammonium salts of the compounds of the foregoing structural formula.

Abstract: Novel Polyalkylenglycol naphthyl-3-sulfopropyl diethers and salts thereof of the formula ##STR1## (R.sub.1 -R.sub.3 =H, C.sub.p H.sub.2p--1 ; p=l--4, A=(PO).sub.m --(EO).sub.n --, (EO).sub.n --(PO).sub.m,--(EO).sub.n EO=ethylenoxide residue, PO=propylenoxide residue, m=0-15, n-1-40, A=H, alkali metal, earth alkali metal, NR.sub.5 R.sub.6 R.sub.7 R.sub.8 wherein R.sub.5 -R.sub.8 =H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 --alkyl, aryl, aralkyl) are prepared by reacting the corresponding polyalkylene glycol naphthyl either with propane-1.3-sultone. The compounds are surfactants in particular in electroplating baths for precipitation Zn, Sn, Cu, Ag, Ni and alloys thereof.