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 with N and X wherein N and X are respectively bound to adjacent carbon atoms on the ring; X is O, S, or NR3; B is an optionally substituted heterocycle; 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; Y (when present) is independently OM, OR3, O(CH2)qSO3M, NHOH, NHR3, or NR3 2, wherein, M is selected from an
alkali metal or an
alkaline earth metal, and q is 1 to 5; and 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 carboxylic acid, a linear or branched
alkyl carboxylate, a linear or branched
alkyl nitrile, a linear or branched alkyl
alcohol, a linear or branched alkyl
alcohol polyol, an acyl, 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, and alternatively, NR3 2 represents a heterocyclic ring, e.g.
morpholine. Also provided are formulations, compositions and uses thereof.