Use of substituted benzazoles as UV absorbers, new benzazoles and processes for their preparation

A method of absorbing UV radiation which comprises using as the UV absorber a compound of the formula ##STR31## in which X is S, N,NR.sup.1 or O,

• R.sup.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.15 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 -aryl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 -ar-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyoxycarbonyl or C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 -hetaryl, optionally these substituents being substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 -alkoxy, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 -aryloxy, amino, hydroxyl, CONR.sup.2 R.sup.3, COOR.sup.4 or Si(OR.sup.7).sub.3,
• R.sup.2 and R9 independently of one another are H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 -alkyl,
• R.sup.4 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 -alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 -aryl or R.sup.5 --O--(CH.sub.2 --CH(R.sup.6)--O--).sub.n --CH.sub.2 -- CH(R.sup.6)--,
• R.sup.5 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl,
• R.sup.6 is H or methyl,
• n is zero or an integer from 1 to 4,
• R.sup.7 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl and
• R.sup.8 to R.sup.15 independently of one another are hydrogen, amino or nitro or possess the meaning given under R.sup.1.