Aryl-acrylic acid esters

A method for preparing compositions which provide upon activation organoleptic, antimicrobial or fluorescent whitening properties comprising incorporating into one of these compositions a compound of Formula I:

• ##STR9## wherein A is selected from benzene and naphthalene rings;
• R.sup.1 is a saturated, unsaturated, straight, branched, alicyclic or an aromatic C.sub.10 -C.sub.30 hydrocarbon residue which can contain heteroatoms and can be substituted by an ionic substituent;
• R.sup.2 in the 2- or 3-position is a hydrogen, a straight or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 residue, an optionally substituted aromatic or an optionally substituted heterocyclic residue;
• R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are a hydrogen, a straight or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy residue, a substituted or condensed heterocyclic residue, --OH, --NO.sub.2, --NH.sub.2, --N(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl).sub.2, --N (hydroxyalkyl).sub.2, --NHCO.sub.2 CH.sub.3 or --NH (heterocycle);
• wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same or different;
• X is an --OH or NHR.sup.6, wherein R.sup.6 is a hydrogen, a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 hydrocarbon, or an optionally substituted aromatic or heterocyclic residue;
• and
• the acrylic double bond is of the E configuration.