The present invention provides a fluorescent whitening agent or
optical brightener of formula (I) or (II) formulated as a surfactant for use in a
personal care product, wherein the fluorescent whitening agent or
optical brightener of formula (I) or (II) has the structure, wherein: A is CR1R2(CH2)n wherein R1 is H, CH2OH or COY, R2 is H or CH2OH and wherein n is 1 or 2, or wherein A is 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; the or each Y is independently OM, OR3, O(CH2)qSO3M, NHOH, NHR3, NR3 2, or X'L, wherein, 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, 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
polyester having from 2 to 1000 repeat units, or a polyoxyalkylene chain having from 2 to 1000 repeating units; and q is 1 to 5; alternatively, NR3 2 represents a heterocyclic ring; when Y is X'L, X' is O, S or NR3, and L is a
linker moiety connected to least one repeating unit of formula (I) or (II) having X' in place of Y; R is H, CHR5R6, R5, R6, an alkylsulphonate, a polyether, an optionally substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, CH2COY or CH(COY)((CH)nCOY) in which each Y may be the same or different, R5 and R6 independently represent
hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, vinyl, phenyl,
hydroxymethyl, 1-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 1,2- dihydroxyethyl, aminomethyl, 1-(dimethylamino)methyl, 5-aminopentyl, or cyano, optionally wherein R5 and R6 are the same or different, and n is 1 or 2. Compositions and uses thereof in a
personal care product are also provided.