A chromium complex of the formula ##STR107## in which B is acetylacetone, benzoylacetone, ethyl acetoacetate, 2-hydroxyacetophenone, 2-hydroxybenzophenone, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoylpyrazol-5-one, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-acetylpyrazol-5-one or salicylaldehyde, L is water, D is benzene which contains the oxygen atom in the o-position relative to the azo bridge and is unsubstituted or substituted by sulfo, nitro, chlorine and --NH-X or is naphthalene which contains the oxygen atom in the o-position relative to the azo bridge and is unsubstituted or substituted by sulfo, nitro and --NH-X, K is naphthalene which, in addition to --NH-X is substituted by 1 or 2 sulfo groups, the radical --NH-X being bonded to th enaphthalene nucleus either directly or via phenylamino, or is 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazol-5-one where the group --NH-X is bonded to the phenyl ring or is 1-(2',2"-disulfortilbene)-3-methylpyrazol-5-one where the group --NH-X is bonded in the 4"-position, X is .alpha.,.beta.-dibromopropionyl, .alpha.-bromoacryloyl or 2,6-difluoro-5-chloropyrimidinyl, and Ka is an alkali metal cation.