Benzoxazole-styryls

Benzoxazole-styryls of the formula ##STR39## wherein the rings A, B, C and D are unsubstituted or substituted with non-chromophoric substituents, selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted alkyl with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkyl with 1 to 3 carbon atoms, which is substituted at the terminal carbon atom by a cyano group or COOR group, wherein R represents hydrogen, a salt-forming cation or alkyl with 1 to 5 carbon atoms, cyclohexyl, phenylakyl with 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl part, phenyl which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents from the series chlorine, methyl or methoxy;

• alkoxy with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenoxy which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 substituents from the series chlorine, methyl or methoxy;
• chlorine, bromine, cyano, COOR, wherein R represents hydrogen, a salt-forming cation, alkyl with 1 to 5 carbon atoms or benzyl, CONR' (R.sub.1 '), wherein R' represents hydrogen, alkyl with 1 or 6 carbon atoms, alkyl with 2 to 4 carbon atoms, which is substituted at the terminal carbon atom by a dialkylamino group or an optionally quaternised dialkylamino group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms in each alkyl part, hydroxyalkyl with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl with 2 to 8 carbon atoms, phenyl or benzyl and R.sub.1 ' represents hydrogen, alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkoxyalkyl with 2 to 8 carbon atoms, or R' and R.sub.1 ', conjointly with the nitrogen, represent a morpholino or piperidino radical;
• SO.sub.2 OY, wherein Y denotes hydrogen, a salt-forming cation, alkyl with 1 to 5 carbon atoms, phenyl or alkyl-substituted phenyl SO.sub.2 NR' (R.sub.1 '), wherein R' and R.sub.1 ' have the meaning indicated above, alkylsulphonyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, benzylsulphonyl, phenylsulphonyl or phenylsulphonyl which is substituted by chlorine or methyl, or a fused phenyl ring.