Phenylthiophenyl ketones

A compound of the formula ##STR21## wherein n is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and R, if n is 1, is alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms which is substituted by --CO.sub.2 R.sub.2, or

• R is --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 OR.sub.1, and R.sub.1 is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, cyclohexyl, benzyl, phenyl, tolyl, --CO-alkenyl containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkenyl moiety or glycidyloxyalkyl containing 3 to 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety,
• R.sub.2 is alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, each of 3 to 14 carbon atoms and interrupted by oxygen, hydroxyalkyl of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms which is substituted by glycidyl, cycloalkyl of 5 to 12 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 3 to 18 carbon atoms, benzyl, phenyl, alkylphenyl containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety, furfuryl or a radical of formula --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 OR.sub.1,
• or R, if n is 2, is a radical of formula --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 --O--R.sub.12 --O--CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 -- or --(CH.sub.2).sub.m CO--O--R.sub.14 --O--CO(CH.sub.2).sub.m --, wherein m is 1, 2 or 3,
• and R.sub.12 is alkylene of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, alkylene of 3 to 14 carbon atoms which is interrupted by oxygen, phenylene or a radical of formula ##STR22## R.sub.14 is alkylene of 2 to 10 carbon atoms or alkylene of 4 to 30 carbon atoms which is interrupted by oxygen, or
• R, if n is 3, is a radical of formula ##STR23## wherein m has the given meaning, and R.sub.15 is alkanetriyl of 3 to 12 carbon atoms, or
• R, if n is 4, is a radical of formula ##STR24## wherein m has the given meaning, and R.sub.16 is alkanetetrayl of 4 to 12 carbon atoms.