Arylmethylols, their preparation and their use

A compound of the formula (1) ##STR12## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3,

• R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 which may be identical or different radicals on the rings, denote hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, straight-chain or branched C.sub.1 - to C.sub.6 - alkyl radicals, C.sub.1 - to C.sub.6 -alkylcarboxylic acid radicals or esters thereof with C.sub.1 - to C.sub.4 -alkanols, C.sub.1 - to C.sub.6 - alkylamino radicals or nitro or cyano groups, wherein at least two of the radicals R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, and R.sup.6 can be linked to one another in pairs and form a trimethylene or tetramethylene group;
• X, Y and Z denote identical or different divalent radicals --O--, --S--, --N(R.sup.9)-- or --C(R.sup.10).dbd.C(R.sup.11)--, with the proviso that at least one of the radicals X, Y and Z is not a radical of the formula --C(R.sup.10).dbd.C(R.sup.11)--, and wherein
• R.sup.9 is a hydrogen atom, a branched or unbranched C.sub.1 - to C.sub.8 -alkyl radical or a phenyl radical;
• R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are, in each case, identical or different radicals which have one of the meanings of R.sup.1 ;
• R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 denote identical or different radicals selected from hydrogen atoms or C.sub.1 - to C.sub.6 -alkyl or phenyl radicals;
• and
• n, m and o denote identical or different integers with a value of from 1 to 10.