An acrylate of the formula ##STR15## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, X is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, haloalkyl, cyano or nitro, W is unsubstituted or alkyl-substituted, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkylene, Y is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, aryloxy, halogen, an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.4 H.sub.4 chain fused to the benzene radical, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, thiocyanato, cyano, NO.sub.2, aralkyloxy, ##STR16## and R' and R" independently of one another are each hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio or cycloalkyl or are each phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by alkyl, halogen or alkoxy, and n is from 1 to 4.