The chemistry of fluorescent whitening agents. Major structural types.

This gives a summary of those fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) that have industrial importance. Firstly, a survey of the general physical and applicational properties is given, and then the chemistry of FWAs is dealt with. The FWAs are classified in six major structural classes: (A) stilbenes (B) coumarin and carbostyril compounds, (C) 1,3-DIPHENYL-2-PYRAZOLINES, (D) naphthalimides, (E) benzoxazolyl substitution products of conjugated systems, and (F) combined products of other heteroaromatics with ethylene or aromatic systems, owing to their methods of preparation and to their optical characteristics.