Aromatic carboxylic acid esters and amides as fixing agents

In a process wherein a fabric consisting of or containing fibers of polyester, cellulose 21/2 acetate, cellulose triacetate or polyvinyl chloride is dyed or printed, the improvement which comprises applying to the fabric before, during or after the dyeing or printing thereof a compound of the formula ##STR21## wherein X is --O-- or --NR--,

• R is hydrogen, phenyl, phenylalkyl (C.sub.7 -C.sub.22), phenyl or phenylalkyl (C.sub.7 -C.sub.22) substituted by --OH, alkyl or halogen and having up to 22 carbon atoms in the aggregate thereof, alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.22), cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7), alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15) cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7), cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7) alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15), alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15) cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7) alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15) or a group --(Y.sub.2 --O).sub.m.sbsb.2 --R.sub.2
• Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 are, independently, ethylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,2-butylene or phenylethylene, with the proviso that
• a. only the group Y.sub.1 or Y.sub.2 which is bound to --X--, can be 1,3-propylene, and
• b. each (Y.sub.1 -O) or (Y.sub.2 -O) chain contains no more than 2 phenylethylene groups,
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are, independently, hydrogen, phenyl, phenylalkyl (C.sub.7 -C.sub.22), phenyl or phenylalkyl substituted on the phenyl nucleus by --OH, alkyl or halogen and having up to 22 carbon atoms in the aggregate thereof, alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.22), cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7), alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15) cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7), cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7) alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15), alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15) cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7) alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15), or a group ##STR22## R.sub.3 is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.22), cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7), cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7) alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15), alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15) cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7), alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15) cycloalkyl (C.sub.5 -C.sub.7) alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.15), --CN, --COOR.sub.6, --SO.sub.3 R.sub.6, --OR.sub.6, --NHR.sub.6 or --N(R.sub.6).sub.2, --CO.sub.2 M, --SO.sub.3 M or a group --CO--X--(Y.sub.1 O).sub.m.sbsb.1 --R.sub.1,
• R.sub.4 is hydrogen, --CO.sub.2 M, --OR.sub.6 or a group --CO--X--(Y.sub.1 O).sub.m.sbsb.1 --R.sub.1,
• R.sub.5 is hydrogen, --CO.sub.2 M or a group --CO--X--(Y.sub.1 O).sub.m.sbsb.1 --R.sub.1,
• M is a charge equivalent of a cation, m.sub.1 and m.sub.2 are integers 1 to 100, the sum of all integers m.sub.1 and m.sub.2 being 1 to 100,
• and R.sub.6 is hydrogen or a group R.