Substituted 5-aryl-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole UV absorbers, compositions stabilized therewith and process for preparation thereof

A compound of formula I

• wherein
• R is phenyl, naphthyl, biphenylyl, 9-phenanthryl or said phenyl, naphthyl, biphenylyl or 9-phenanthryl substituted by one to three alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, phenylalkyl of 7 to 15 carbon atoms, R3S—, R3SO—, R3SO2, aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, perfluoroalkyl of 1 to 12 carbon a halogen, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl of 2 to 19 carbon atoms, hydroxyl, alkoxy of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, aryloxy of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, aralkoxy of 7 to 15 carbon atoms, vinyl, acetyl, acetamido, amino, dialkylamino of 2 to 12 carbon atoms, formyl, thioalkoxy of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, hydroxymethyl, aminomethyl, halomethyl, sulfato, phosphato or where any two substituents form a benzo ring with the aryl moiety to which they are attached,
• R3 is alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, phenylalkyl of 7 to 15 carbon atoms or aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms,
• E1 is hydrogen, straight or branched alkyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, phenylalkyl of 7 to 15 carbon atoms, phenyl, or said phenyl or said phenylalkyl substituted on the phenyl ring by 1 to 4 alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms,
• E2 is straight or branched alkyl chain of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, straight or branched chain alkenyl of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 12 carbon atoms, phenylalkyl of 7 to 15 carbon atoms, phenyl, or said phenyl or said phenylalkyl substituted on the phenyl ring by 1 to 3 alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• or E2 is alkyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms or alkenyl of 2 to 18 carbon atoms substituted by one or more —OH, —OCOE3, —NH2, —NHCOE3 or —COOE3, or by a mixture thereof;
• or said alkyl or said alkenyl interrupted by one or more —O— which can be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more —OH groups;
• where E3 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, and where said alkyl is interrupted by one or more —O— and which can be substituted by one or more —OH or —OR21 groups where R21 is alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms;
• and
• with the proviso that when E1 is hydrogen or alkyl, R is not phenyl.