The present invention provides a fluorescent whitening agent or
optical brightener of formula (I) wherein: A is C(R1R2)(CH2)n, or an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic ring fused between N and N-B wherein N and N-B are respectively bound to adjacent carbon atoms on the ring; B is a linear or branched
alkyl, a linear or branched alkenyl, an
aryl, a heterocycle, an alkaryl, an aralkyl, a linear or branched
alkyl carboxylic acid, a linear or branched
alkyl carbonyl, an aromatic carbonyl, a heteroaromatic carbonyl, an acyl, a linear or branched alkyl
carboxylate, a linear or branched alkyl
carboxylate salt, a linear or branched sulphonate salt, a linear or branched alkyl
alcohol, a linear or branched alkyl
alcohol polyol, a hydroxyalkylamine, a linear or branched alkylamine, a polyhydric
alcohol, a
sugar, a linear or branched
alkyl ether, a linear or branched polyether, a
polyester having from 2 to 1000 repeat units, or a polyoxyalkylene chain having from 2 to 1000 repeating units; Y is independently OM, OR3, O(CH2)qSO3M, NHOH, NHR3, or NR3 2; and wherein: when A is C(R1R2)(CH2)n, R1 is H, CH2OH, COY, or an optionally substituted heterocycle, R2 is H, or CH2OH and wherein n is 1 or 2; M is selected from an
alkali metal or an
alkaline earth metal; the or each R3 is independently
hydrogen, a linear or branched alkyl, a linear or branched alkenyl, an
aryl, a heterocycle, an alkaryl, an aralkyl, a linear or branched alkyl alcohol, a linear or branched alkyl alcohol
polyol, a hydroxyalkylamine, a linear or branched alkylamine, a polyhydric alcohol, a
sugar, a linear or branched
alkyl ether, a linear or branched polyether, a
polyester having from 2 to 1000 repeat units, or a polyoxyalkylene chain having from 2 to 1000 repeating units; q is 1 to 5; and alternatively, NR3 2 represents a heterocyclic ring. Also provided are formulations, compositions and uses thereof.