Unsaturated resins, especially those to be cured by radiation, frequently have to be stabilised against undesired polymerisation or crosslinking in order that they have adequate storage stability.

In the prior art, for example in US 5 863 997 or EP-A-0 306 444, there are proposed for that purpose especially phenolic compounds, more especially those based on quinone/hydro- quinone or phenothiazine.

Examples of typical additives intended to prevent premature polymerisation are hydro- quinone, hydroquinone derivatives, p-methoxyphenol, 0-naphthol and sterically hindered phenols, e. g. 2, 6-di (tert-butyl)-p-cresol.

A disadvantage of such additives is that after exposure to UV light, which is used, for example, for the radiation-curing of surface-coatings, a visible yellowing occurs. UV expo- sure may also occur during use, for example in the case of surface-coatings that are exposed to actinic radiation when used outdoors. In that case too the hydroquinone/quinone stabilisers used can lead to undesirable yellowing.

The problem underlying the present invention is therefore to provide stabilisers for increasing the storage stability of unsaturated polymers, oligomers and monomers that bring about adequate or even improved storage stability and give rise to no, or only slight, yellowing under the action of UV light.

It has now been found, surprisingly, that this problem is solved by adding to the polymers, oligomers or monomers compounds from the class of the benzofuran-2-ones and/or from the class of the stable sterically hindered nitroxyl free-radicals.

The compounds are known per se and are described for various applications in the prior art.

Examples of benzofuran-2-ones can be found in US 5 814 692 or in US 5 773 631.

Stable sterically hindered nitroxyl free-radicals are described, for example, in EP-A-581 737.

The invention relates to a composition comprising a1) at least one oligomer, co-oligomer, polymer or copolymer or a mixture thereof having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond ; or a2) a mixture of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer with at least one oligomer, co-oligomer, polymer or copolymer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond ; and b) at least one stable sterically hindered nitroxyl free-radical or at least one compound of the benzofuran-2-one type or a mixture of the two compounds.

In the context of the present invention at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, oligomer, co-oligomer, polymer or copolymer means in each case that two, three or more of the corresponding unsaturated compounds may be present. Depending upon the field of use, in order to achieve the properties required for the application in question a complex mixture of different monomers, oligomers, co-oligomers, polymers or copolymers may be necessary.

In the case of a1), therefore, chemically different ethylenically unsaturated oligomers, co- oligomers, polymers or copolymers may be present, their ratio to one another being governed by the requirements of the field of use in question. Where there are three components, the amount of each component may be, for example, from 5 to 50 parts, the parts adding up to a total of 100.

In the case of a2), the proportion of monomers may be from 0. 1 to 50 parts, preferably from 1 to 30 parts, and the oligomers, co-oligomers, polymers or copolymers together with the monomers add up to a total of 100 parts.

Preference is given to a composition in which the monomer, oligomer, co-oligomer, polymer or copolymer has at least 2 ethylenically unsaturated bonds.

The composition is preferably liquid, but where one or more components are solid solvents may also be present. Preferably as little solvent as possible is added. Where necessary, therefore, from 5 to 20% by weight, based on the total composition, is typical.

Preferably the monomers, oligomers, co-oligomers, polymers or copolymers are themselves liquid or resinous at room temperature.

In the case of solid components, these can be dissolved, for example, in a liquid component (monomer) but it is also possible to dissolve the component in a solvent beforehand and add it to the mixture in the form of a solution. Suitable solvents are, for example, ethers, esters, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, amides or alcohols.

Preference is also given to a composition wherein the monomer, oligomer, co-oligomer, polymer or copolymer contains at least one acrylate or methacrylate functionality or is a polyester derived from an unsaturated acid.

Preferably the unsaturated compounds of component (a1, a2) are photopolymerisable or radiation-curable compounds.

The ethylenically unsaturated compounds (a1, a2) may contain one or more olefinic double bonds. They may be low molecular weight (monomeric) or higher molecular weight (oligo- meric). Examples of monomers having a double bond are alkyl and hydroxyalkyl acrylates and methacrylates, e. g. methyl, ethyl, butyl, 2-ethylhexyl and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, iso- bornyl acrylate and methyl and ethyl methacrylate. Also of interest are silicone acrylates.

Further examples are acrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-substituted (meth) acryl- amides, vinyl esters, such as vinyl acetate, vinyl ethers, such as isobutyl vinyl ether, styrene, alkyl-and halo-styrenes, N-vinylpyrrolidone, vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride.

Examples of monomers having several double bonds are ethylene glycol diacrylate, propyl- ene glycol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, hexamethylene glycol diacrylate, bis- phenol-A diacrylate, 4, 4'-bis (2-acryloyloxyethoxy) diphenylpropane, trimethylolpropane tri- acrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, vinyl acrylate, divinyl- benzene, divinyl succinate, diallyl phthalate, triallyl phosphate, triallyl isocyanurate and tris (2- acryloylethyl) isocyanurate.

Examples of higher molecular weight (oligomeric, polymeric) polyunsaturated compounds are acrylate epoxy resins, acrylate or vinyl-ether-or epoxy-group-containing polyesters, polyurethanes and polyethers. Further examples of unsaturated oligomers are unsaturated polyester resins, which are usually produced from maleic acid, phthalic acid and one or more diols and have molecular weights of about from 500 to 3000. In addition it is also possible to use vinyl ether monomers and oligomers, and also maleate-terminated oligomers having polyester, polyurethane, polyether, polyvinyl ether and epoxide main chains. Combinations of vinyl-ether-group-carrying oligomers and polymers, as described in WO 90/01512, are especially suitable, but copolymers of vinyl ether and monomers functionalised with maleic acid also come into consideration. Such unsaturated oligomers can also be termed prepolymers.

Especially suitable are, for example, esters of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and polyols or polyepoxides, and polymers having ethylenically unsaturated groups in the chain or in side groups, e. g. unsaturated polyesters, polyamides and polyurethanes and copoly- mers thereof, alkyd resins, polybutadiene and butadiene copolymers, polyisoprene and isoprene copolymers, polymers and copolymers having (meth) acrylic groups in side chains, and also mixtures of one or more such polymers.

Examples of unsaturated carboxylic acids are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, cinnamic acid and unsaturated fatty acids such as linolenic acid or oleic acid.

Acrylic and methacrylic acid are preferred.

Suitable polyols are aromatic and especially aliphatic and cycloaliphatic polyols. Examples of aromatic polyols are hydroquinone, 4, 4'-dihydroxydiphenyl, 2, 2-di (4-hydroxyphenyl) pro- pane, and novolaks and resols. Examples of polyepoxides are those based on the said polyols, especially the aromatic polyols and epichlorohydrin. Also suitable as polyols are polymers and copolymers that contain hydroxyl groups in the polymer chain or in side groups, e. g. polyvinyl alcohol and copolymers thereof or polymethacrylic acid hydroxyalkyl esters or copolymers thereof. Further suitable polyols are oligoesters having hydroxyl terminal groups.

Examples of aliphatic and cycloaliphatic polyols include alkylenediols having preferably from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, such as ethylene glycol, 1, 2- or 1, 3-propanediol, 1, 2-, 1, 3- or 1, 4- butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol, octanediol, dodecanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycols having molecular weights of preferably from 200 to 1500, 1, 3- cyclopentanediol, 1, 2-, 1, 3- or 1, 4-cyclohexanediol, 1, 4-dihydroxymethylcyclohexane, glycerol, tris (p-hydroxyethyl) amine, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and sorbitol.

The polyols may be partially or fully esterified by one or by different unsaturated carboxylic acid (s), it being possible for the free hydroxyl groups in partial esters to have been modified, for example etherified, or esterified by other carboxylic acids.

Examples of esters are : trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolethane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacryl- ate, trimethylolethane trimethacrylate, tetramethylene glycol dimethacrytate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, pentaerythritol diacrylate, pentaeryth- ritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol diacrylate, dipentaerythritol triacrylate, dipentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, tripentaerythritol octaacrylate, pentaerythritol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol trimethacrylate, dipentaerythritol dimethacrylate, dipentaerythritol tetramethacrylate, tri- pentaerythritol octamethacrylate, pentaerythritol diitaconate, dipentaerythritol trisitaconate, dipentaerythritol pentaitaconate, dipentaerythritol hexaitaconate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, 1, 3-butanediol diacrylate, 1, 3-butanediol dimethacrylate, 1, 4-butanediol diitaconate, sorbitol triacrylate, sorbitol tetraacrylate, pentaerythritol-modified triacrylate, sorbitol tetrameth- acrylate, sorbitol pentaacrylate, sorbitol hexaacrylate, oligoester acrylates and methacryl- ates, glycerol di-and tri-acrylate, 1, 4-cyclohexane diacrylate, bisacrylates and bismeth- acrylates of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from 200 to 1500, and mixtures thereof.

Also suitable as component (a1, a2) are the amides of identical or different unsaturated carboxylic acids and aromatic, cycloaliphatic and aliphatic polyamines having preferably from 2 to 6, especially from 2 to 4, amino groups. Examples of such polyamines are ethylene- diamine, 1, 2- or 1, 3-propylenediamine, 1, 2-, 1, 3- or 1, 4-butylenediamine, 1, 5-pentylene- diamine, 1, 6-hexylenediamine, octylenediamine, dodecylenediamine, 1, 4-diamino-cyclo- hexane, isophoronediamine, phenylenediamine, bisphenylenediamine, di-ß-aminoethyi ether, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine and di (ß-aminoethoxy)-and di (ß-aminopropoxy)- ethane. Further suitable polyamines are polymers and copolymers which may have additional amino groups in the side chain and oligoamides having amino terminal groups.

Examples of such unsaturated amides are : methylene bisacrylamide, 1, 6-hexamethylene bisacrylamide, diethylenetriamine trismethacrylamide, bis (methacrylamidopropoxy) ethane, P-methacrylamidoethyl methacrylate and N-[(ß-hydroxyethoxy) ethyl]-acrylamide.

Suitable unsaturated polyesters and polyamides are derived, for example, from maleic acid and diols or diamines. The maleic acid may have been partially replaced by other dicarbox- ylic acids. They may be used together with ethylenically unsaturated comonomers, e. g. styrene. The polyesters and polyamides may also be derived from dicarboxylic acids and ethylenically unsaturated diols or diamines, especially from those having longer chains of e. g. from 6 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of polyurethanes are those composed of saturated diisocyanates and unsaturated diols or unsaturated diisocyanates and saturated diols.

Polybutadiene and polyisoprene and copolymers thereof are known. Suitable comonomers include, for example, olefins, such as ethylene, propene, butene, hexene, (meth) acrylates, acrylonitrile, styrene and vinyl chloride. Polymers having (meth) acrylate groups in the side chain are likewise known. Examples are reaction products of novolak-based epoxy resins with (meth) acrylic acid ; homo-or co-polymers of vinyl alcohol or hydroxyalkyl derivatives thereof that have been esterified with (meth) acrylic acid ; and homo-and co-polymers of (meth) acrylates that have been esterified with hydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylates.

The compounds of component (al, a2) can be used on their own or in any desired mixtures.

Preferably mixtures of polyol (meth) acrylates are used.

Preferred monomer, oligomer and polymer components for such mixtures are described by way of example above.

Suitable mono-, di-, tri-and higher-functional components are commercially available.

The molecular weights of the oligomers, co-oligomers, polymers or co-polymers may range from approximately 100 to 100 000, preferably from 200 to 10 000 and especially from 500 to 5000.

Preference is given to photopolymerisable mixtures that comprise one or more photo- initiators as further component. Examples of photoinitiators are given below.

As photoinitiators it is possible in principle to add any initiators known from the prior art.

Typical examples are mentioned below, which can be used both on their own or in admixture with one another. For example, benzophenones, benzophenone derivatives, acetophenone, aceto- phenone derivatives, e. g. a-hydroxycycloalkylphenylketones or 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl- propanone, dialkoxyacetophenones, a-hydroxy-or a-amino-acetophenones, e. g. (4-methyl- <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> thiobenzoyl)-1-methyl-1-morpholino-ethane, (4-morpholino-benzoyl)-1-benzyl-1-dimethylamino- propane, 4-aryl-1, 3-dioxolanes, benzoin alkyl ethers and benzil ketals, e. g. benzil dimethyl ketal, phenyl glyoxalates and derivatives thereof, dimeric phenylglyoxalates, monoacylphosphine oxides, e. g. (2, 4, 6-trimethylbenzoyl) phenylphosphine oxide, bisacylphosphine oxides, e. g. bis (2, 6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-(2, 4, 4-trimethyl-pent-1-yl) phosphine oxide, bis (2, 4, 6-trimethyl- benzoyl) phenylphosphine oxide or bis (2, 4, 6-trimethylbenzoyl)- (2, 4-dipentyloxyphenyl) phosphine oxide, trisacylphosphine oxides, ferrocenium compounds or titanocenes, e. g. dicyclopentadienyl- bis (2, 6-difluoro-3-pyrrolo-phenyl) titanium. A further class of suitable photoinitiators is that of the oxime esters. The following compounds may be mentioned by way of example : 1- (4-phenyl- sulfanyl-phenyl)-butane-1, 2-dione 2-oxime-O-benzoate, 1- (4-phenyisulfanyl-phenyl)-octane-1, 2- dione 2-oxime-O-benzoate, 1- (4-phenylsulfanyl-phenyl)-octan-1-one oxime-O-acetate, l- (4- phenylsulfanyl-phenyl)-butan-1-one oxime-O-acetate and 1- (4-phenylsulfanyl-phenyl)-octane-1, 2- dione 2-oxime-O-benzoate.

As co-initiators there come into consideration, for example, sensitisers that shift or broaden the spectral sensitivity and thus bring about an acceleration of the photopolymerisation.

They are especially aromatic carbonyl compounds such as e. g. benzophenone, thio- xanthone, especially isopropylthioxanthone, anthraquinone and 3-acylcoumarin derivatives, terphenyls, styryl ketones, and also 3-(aroylmethylene)-thiazolines, camphor quinone, but also eosine, rhodamine and erythrosin dyes.

Further examples of photosensitisers are 1. Thioxanthones Thioxanthone, 2-isopropylthioxanthone, 2-chlorothioxanthone, 2-dodecylthioxanthone, 2, 4- diethylthioxanthone, 2, 4-dimethylthioxanthone, 1-methoxycarbonylthioxanthone, 2-ethoxy- carbonylthioxanthone, 3-(2-methoxyethoxycarbonylfithioxanthone, 4-butoxycarbonyl- thioxanthone, 3-butoxycarbonyl-7-methylthioxanthone, 1-cyano-3-chlorothioxanthone, 1- ethoxycarbonyl-3-chlorothioxanthone, 1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-ethoxythioxanthone, 1-ethoxy- carbonyl-3-aminothioxanthone, 1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenyisulfurylthioxanthone, 3, 4-di [2- (2- methoxyethoxy) ethoxycarbonyl] thioxanthone, 1-ethoxycarbonyl-3- (1-methyl-1-morpholino- ethyl)-thioxanthone, 2-methyl-6-dimethoxymethyl-thioxanthone, 2-methyl-6- (1, 1-dimethoxy- benzyl)-thioxanthone, 2-morpholinomethylthioxanthone, 2-methyl-6-morpholinomethyl- thioxanthone, N-allylthioxanthone-3, 4-dicarboximide, N-octylthioxanthone-3,4-dicarboximide, N- (1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutyl)-thioxanthone-3, 4-dicarboximide, 1-phenoxythioxanthone, 6- ethoxycarbonyl-2-methoxythioxanthone, 6-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methylthioxanthone, thio- xanthone-2-polyethylene glycol ester, 2-hydroxy-3- (3, 4-dimethyl-9-oxo-9H-thioxanthon-2- yloxy)-N, N, N-trimethyl-1-propanaminium chloride ; 2. Benzopheones Benzophenone, 4-phenylbenzophoenone, 4-methoxybenzophenone, 4, 4'-dimethoxy- benzophenone, 4, 4'-dimethylbenzophenone, 4, 4'-dichlorbenzopheone, 4, 4'-dimethyE aminobenzophenone, 4, 4'-diethylaminobenzophenone, 4-methylbenzophenone, 2, 4, 6- trimethylbenzophenone, 4- (4-methylthiophenyl)-benzophenone, 3, 3'-dimethyl-4-methoxy- benzophenone, methyl-2-benzoyl benzoate, 4- (2-hydroxyethylthio)-benzophenone, 4- (4- tolylthio) benzophenone, 4-benzoyl-N, N, N-trimethylbenzenemethanaminium chloride, 2- hydroxy-3- (4-benzoylphenoxy)-N, N, N-trimethyl-1-propanaminium chloride monohydrate, 4- (13-acryloyl-1, 4, 7, 10, 13-pentaoxatridecyl)-benzophenone, 4-benzoyl-N, N-dimethyl-N- [2- (1- oxo-2-propenyl) oxy] ethyl-benzenemethanaminium chloride ; 3. 3-Acvlcoumarins 3-Benzoylcoumarin, 3-benzoyl-7-methoxycoumarin, 3-benzoyl-5, 7-di (propoxy) coumarin, 3- benzoyl-6, 8-dichlorocoumarin, 3-benzoyl-6-chlorocoumarin, 3, 3'-carbonyl-bis [5, 7-d (propoxy) coumarin], 3, 3'-carbonyl-bis (7-methoxycoumarin), 3, 3'-carbonyl-bis (7-diethyl- aminocoumarin), 3-isobutyroylcoumarin, 3-benzoyl-5, 7-dimethoxycoumarin, 3-benzoyl-5, 7- diethoxycoumarin, 3-benzoyl-5, 7-dibutoxycoumarin, 3-benzoyl-5, 7-di (methoxyethoxy)- coumarin, 3-benzoyl-5, 7-di (allyloxy) coumarin, 3-benzoyl-7-dimethylaminocoumarin, 3- benzoyl-7-diethylaminocoumarin, 3-isobutyroyl-7-dimethylaminocoumarin, 5, 7-dimethoxy-3- (1-naphthoyl)-coumarin, 5, 7-dimethoxy-3- (1-naphthoyl)-coumarin, 3-benzoylbenzo [f]- coumarin, 7-diethylamino-3-thienoylcoumarin, 3- (4-cyanobenzoyl)-5, 7-dimethoxycoumarin ; 4. 3-(Arovimethvlene)-thiazolines <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> 3-Methyl-2-benzoylmethylene-P-naphthothiazoline, 3-methyl-2-benzoylmethylene-benzothia- zoline, 3-ethyl-2-propionylmethylene-ß-naphthothiazoline ; 5. Other carbonyl compounds Acetophenone, 3-methoxyacetophenone, 4-phenylacetophenone, benzil, 2-acetyl- naphthalene, 2-naphthaldehyde, 9, 10-anthraquinone, 9-fluorenone, dibenzosuberone, xanthone, 2, 5-bis (4-diethyiaminobenzylidene) cyclopentanone, a-(para-dimethylamino- benzylidene) ketones, such as 2- (4-dimethylamino-benzylidene)-indan-1-one or 3- (4- dimethylamino-phenyl)-1-indan-5-yl-propenone, 3-phenylthiophthalimide, N-methyl-3, 5- di (ethylthio) phthalimide, N-methyl-3, 5-di (ethylthio) phthalimide.

It is also possible to add non-reactive binders to the compositions according to the invention.

The amount of binder may be, for example, from 5 to 40% by weight, based on the total solids. The choice of binder is made according to the field of use and the properties required therefor, such as developability in aqueous and organic solvent systems, adhesion to substrates and oxygen sensitivity.

Suitable binders are, for example, polymers having a molecular weight of approximately from 5000 to 2 000 000, preferably from 10 000 to 1 000 000. Examples are : homo-and co- polymers of acrylates and methacrylates, e. g. copolymers of methyl methacrylate/ethyl acrylate/methacrylic acid, poly (methacrylic acid alkyl esters), poly (acrylic acid alkyl esters) ; cellulose esters and ethers, such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, methyl- cellulose, ethylcellulose ; polyvinylbutyral, polyvinylformal, cyclised caoutchouc, polyethers such as polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polytetrahydrofuran ; polystyrene, poly- carbonate, polyurethane, chlorinated polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride/vinylidene chloride, copolymers of vinylidene chloride with acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate, copoly (ethylenetvinyl acetate), polymers such as polycaprolactam and poly (hexamethylene adipamide), polyesters such as poly- (ethylene glycol terephthalate) and poly (hexamethylene glycol succinate).

The unsaturated compounds can also be used in admixture with non-photopolymerisable film-forming components. These may be, for example, polymers that can be dried physically or solutions thereof in organic solvents, for example nitrocellulose or cellulose acetobutyrate, but they may also be chemically or thermally curable resins, for example polyisocyanates, polyepoxides or melamine resins. The concomitant use of thermally curable resins is import- ant for use in so-called hybrid systems, which are photopolymerised in a first step and cross- linked by thermal after-treatment in a second step.

The thermocurable component is, for example, generally a film-forming binder based on a thermoplastic or thermocurable resin, predominantly on a thermocurable resin. Examples thereof are alkyd, acrylic, polyester, phenolic, melamine, epoxy and polyurethane resins and mixtures thereof. Examples thereof are described, for example, in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th Ed., Vol. A18, pp. 368-426, VCH, Weinheim 1991.

It may be a cold-curable or hot-curable binder, with the addition of a curing catalyst possibly being advantageous. Suitable catalysts that accelerate the full cure of the binder are described, for example, in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Vol. A18, page 469, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim 1991.

Examples of suitable specific binders are : 1. surface-coatings based on cold-or hot-crosslinkable alkyd, acrylate, polyester, epoxy or melamine resins or mixtures of such resins, optionally with the addition of a curing catalyst ; 2. two-component polyurethane surface-coatings based on hydroxyl-group-containing acrylate, polyester or polyether resins and aliphatic or aromatic isocyanates, isocyanurates or polyisocyanates ; 3. one-component polyurethane surface-coatings based on blocked isocyanates, isocyanurates or polyisocyanates, which are de-blocked during stoving ; it is also possible to add melamine resins as appropriate ; 4. one-component polyurethane surface-coatings based on aliphatic or aromatic urethanes or polyurethanes and hydroxy-group-containing acrylate, polyester or polyether resins ; 5. one-component polyurethane surface-coatings based on aliphatic or aromatic urethane acrylates or polyurethane acrylates having free amine groups in the urethane structure and melamine resins or polyether resins, optionally with the addition of a curing catalyst ; 6. two-component surface-coatings based on (poly) ketimines and aliphatic or aromatic isocyanates, isocyanurates or polyisocyanates ; 7. two-component surface-coatings based on (poly) ketimines and an unsaturated acrylate resin or a polyacetoacetate resin or a methacrylamidoglycolate methyl ester ; 8. two-component surface-coatings based on carboxy-or amino-group-containing poly- acrylates and polyepoxides ; 9. two-component surface-coatings based on anhydride-group-containing acrylate resins and a potyhydroxy or polyamino component ; 10. two-component surface-coatings based on acrylate-containing anhydrides and polyepoxides ; 11. two-component surface-coatings based on (poly) oxazolines and anhydride-group- containing acrylate resins or unsaturated acrylate resins or aliphatic or aromatic isocyanates, isocyanurates or polyisocyanates ; 12. two-component surface-coatings based on unsaturated polyacrylates and polymalonates ; 13. thermoplastic polyacrylate surface-coatings based on thermoplastic acrylate resins or extrinsically crosslinking acrylate resins in combination with etherified melamine resins ; 14. surface-coating systems based on urethane (meth) acrylate having (meth) acryloyl groups and free isocyanate groups and on one or more compounds that react with isocyanates, for example free or esterified polyols. Such systems have been published, for example, in EP 928 800.

Blocked isocyanates, as may also be used therein, are described, for example, in Organischer Metallschutz : Entwicklung und Anwendung von Beschichtungsstoffen, pages 159-160, Vincentz Verlag, Hannover (1993). These are compounds in which the highly reactive NCO group is"blocked"by reaction with specific radicals, for example primary alcohols, phenol, acetoacetic ester, £-caprolactam, phthalimide, imidazole, oxime or amine.

The blocked isocyanate is stable in liquid systems and also in the presence of hydroxy groups. On heating, the blocking agents are removed again and the NCO group is freed.

Both 1-Component (1C) and 2-component (2C) systems may be used. Examples of such systems are described in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Vol. A18, Paints and Coatings, pages 404-407, VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim (1991).

It is possible to optimise the composition by specially adapting the formulation, for example by varying the binder/crosslinking agent ratio. Such measures will be known to the person skilled in the art of surface-coating technology.

Preferred as thermocurable component is a mixture based on acrylate/melamine (and melamine derivatives), 2-component polyurethane, 1-component polyurethane, 2-component epoxy/carboxy or 1-component epoxy/carboxy. Mixtures of those systems are also possible, for example the addition of melamine (or derivatives thereof) to 1-component polyurethanes.

Special preference is given to a binder based on a polyacrylate with melamine or a melamine derivative. Also preferred is a system based on a polyacrylate or/and polyester polyol with a non-blocked polyisocyanate or polyisocyanurate.

Also included are compositions comprising as component (at, a2) at least one ethylenically unsaturated photopolymerisable compound dissolved or emulsified in water. Such aqueous radiation-curable prepolymer dispersions are commercially available in many variations and are described in the literature. They are to be understood as being dispersions consisting of water and at least one prepolymer dispersed therein. The concentration of water in such systems is, for example, from 5 to 80% by weight, especially from 30 to 60% by weight. The radiation-curable prepolymer or mixture of prepolymers is present, for example, in concentrations of from 95 to 20% by weight, especially from 70 to 40% by weight. In such compositions the sum of the percentages mentioned for water and prepolymer will be 100 in each case, the auxiliaries and additives, which will be present in varying amounts in accordance with the intended use, being in addition thereto.

The radiation-curable film-forming prepolymers, which are dispersed or in many cases dissolved in water, are mono-or poly-functional ethylenically unsaturated prepolymers that can be initiated by free radicals, for example such as those described above, which prepolymers are known per se for aqueous prepolymer dispersions and contain, for example, from 0. 01 to 1. 0 mol of polymerisable double bonds per 100 g of prepolymer and have an average molecular weight of, for example, at least 400, especially of from 500 to 10 000. Prepolymers having higher molecular weights may also be suitable, however, depending upon the intended use.

There are used, for example, polymerisable C-C double-bond-containing polyesters having an acid number of a maximum of 10, polymerisable C-C double-bond-containing polyethers, hydroxyl-group-containing reaction products of a polyepoxide containing at least two epoxy groups per molecule with at least one a, ß-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, poly- urethane (meth) acrylates and acrylic copolymers containing a, P-ethylenically-unsaturated acrylic radicals, as described in EP 12 339. Mixtures of those prepolymers may also be used. Also suitable are the polymerisable prepoiymers described in EP 33 896, which are thioether adducts of polymerisable prepolymers having an average molecular weight of at least 600, a carboxyl group content of from 0. 2 to 15% and a content of from 0. 01 to 0. 8 mol of polymerisable C-C double bonds per 100 g of prepolymer. Other suitable aqueous dispersions based on specific (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester polymerisation products are described in EP 41 125, and suitable water-dispersible radiation-curable prepolymers of urethane acrylates can be found in DE 2 936 039. Further descriptions of aqueous radiation-curable formulations have been published, for example, by H. Lange in Farbe+Lack, Vol. 99, 7/93, pages 597-601 and W. Reich, K. Menzel and W. Schrof in Farbe+Lack, Vol. 104, 12/98, pages 73-80.

As further additives the radiation-curabie aqueous prepolymer dispersions may comprise dispersing agents, emulsifiers, anti-oxidants, light stabilisers, dyes, pigments, fillers, e. g. talc, gypsum, silicic acid, rutile, carbon black, zinc oxide, iron oxides, reaction accelerators, flow agents, glidants, wetting agents, thickeners, matting agents, antifoams and other adjuvants customary in surface-coating technology. Suitable dispersing agents include water-soluble high molecular weight organic compounds having polar groups, e. g. polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylpyrrolidone and cellulose ethers. As emulsifiers it is possible to use non- ionic and, where appropriate, ionic emulsifiers.

The photopolymerisable monomers, oligomers, co-oligomers, polymers or copolymers containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond can, when formulated as mixtures, be formulated for very specific uses. Examples are clear lacquers, printing inks, pigmented surface-coatings, etch resists or solder resists in the semiconductor industry.

Further additives may also be present according to the intended use.

For example, in addition to the stabilisers (b) according to the invention, further stabilisers, e. g. hydroquinone, p-methoxyphenol, ß-naphthol or sterically hindered phenols, such as 2, 6- di (tert-butyl)-p-cresol, may be present.

The formulations may also contain as additional additives dyes and/or white or coloured pigments. Depending upon the intended use, both inorganic and organic pigments may be used. Such additives will be known to the person skilled in the art ; some examples are titanium dioxide pigments, e. g. of the rutile or anatase type, carbon black, zinc oxide, such as zinc white, iron oxides, such as iron oxide yellow, iron oxide red, chromium yellow, chromium green, nickel titanium yellow, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, bismuth vanadate, cadmium yellow and cadmium red. Examples of organic pigments are mono-or bis-azo pigments, and also metal complexes thereof, phthalocyanine pigments, polycyclic pigments, e. g. perylene, anthraquinone, thioindigo, quinacridone or triphenylmethane pigments, and also diketo-pyrrolo-pyrrole, isoindolinone, e. g. tetrachloroisoindolinone, isoindoline, dioxa- zine, benzimidazolone and quinophthalone pigments.

The pigments may be used in the formulations on their own or in admixture.

Depending upon the intended use, the pigments are added to the formulations in amounts customary in the art, for example in an amount of from 0. 1 to 60% by weight, e. g. from 1 to 60% by weight, for example 10 to 50 or 10 to 40% by weight, based on the total mass.

The formulations may also comprise, for example, organic dyes of an extremely wide variety of classes. Examples are azo dyes, methine dyes, anthraquinone dyes and metal complex dyes. Customary concentrations are, for example, from 0. 1 to 20%, especially from 1 to 5%, based on the total mass.

In addition to the additives mentioned above, the composition may also comprise further additives, especially light stabilisers.

Examples thereof are listed below.

UV Absorbers and light stabilisers 1. 2-(2'-HvdroxvPhenvl}-benzotriazoles, e. g. 2- (2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)-benzotriazole, 2- <BR> <BR> <BR> (3', 5'-di-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzotriazole, 2- (5'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzo- triazole, 2- (2'-hydroxy-5'- (1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl)-benzotriazole, 2- (3', 5'-di-tert- <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2- (3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)-5-<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> chlorobenzotriazole, 2- (3'-sec-butyl-5'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzotriazole, 2- (2'-<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> hydroxy-4'-octyloxyphenyl)-benzotriazole, 2- (3', 5'-di-tert-amyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzdri- azole, 2- (3', 5'-bis (a, a-dimethylbenzyl)-2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- (3'-tert-butyl-2'- <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> hydroxy-5'- (2-octyloxycarbonylethyl) phenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2- (3'-tert-butyl-5'- [2- (2-<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> ethylhexyloxy) carbonylethyl]-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2- (3'-tert-butyl-2'-<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> hydroxy-5'- (2-methoxycarbonylethyl) phenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2- (3'-tert-butyl-2'-<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> hydroxy-5'- (2-methoxycarbonylethyl) phenyl)-benzotriazole, 2- (3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'- (2- octyloxycarbonylethyl) phenyl)-benzotriazole, 2- (3'-tert-butyl-5'- [2- (2-ethyhexyloxy) carb- onylethyl]-2'-hydroxyphenyl)-benzotriazole, 2- (3'-dodecyl-2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)-benzo triazole, 2- (3'-tert-butyl-2'-hydroxy-5'- (2-isooctyloxycarbonylethyl)-phenyl-benzctriazole, 2, 2'- methylene-bis [4- (1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutyl)-6-benzotriazol-2-yl-phenol] ; the transesterification product of 2- [3'-tert-butyl-5'- (2-methoxycarbonylethyl)-2'-hydroxyphenyl]-benzotriazole with polyethylene glycol 300 ; [R-CH2CH2-COO-CH2CH2]2 wherein R = 3'-tert-butyl-4'- hydroxy-5'-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl-phenyl ; 2- [2'-hydroxy-3'- (a, a-dimethylbenzyl)-5'- (1, 1, 3, 3- tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl]-benzotriazole ; 2- [2'-hydroxy-3'- (1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutyl)-5'- (a, a- dimethylbenzyl)-phenyl]-benzotriazole.

2. Hvdroxvbenzophenones, e. g the 4-hydroxy, 4-methoxy, 4-octyloxy, 4-decyloxy, 4-dodecyl- oxy, 4-benzyloxy, 4, 2', 4'-trihydroxy or 2'-hydroxy-4, 4'-dimethoxy derivative.

3. Esters of unsubstituted or substituted benzoic acids, e. g. 4-tert-butyl-phenyl salicylate, phenyl salicylate, octylphenyl salicylate, dibenzoylresorcinol, bis (4-tert-butylbenzoyl}- resorcinol, benzoylresorcinol, 3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid 2, 4-di-tert-butylphenyl ester, 3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid hexadecyl ester, 3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy- benzoic acid octadecyl ester and 3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid 2-methyl-4, 6-di-tert- butylphenyl ester.

4. Acrylates, e. g. α-cyano-ß,ß-diphenylacrylic acid ethyl ester or isooctyl ester, a-methoxy- carbonylcinnamic acid methyl ester, a-cyano-p-methyl-p-methoxycinnamic acid methyl ester or butyl ester, a-methoxycarbonyl-p-methoxycinnamic acid methyl ester and N- (P-methoxy- carbonyl-ß-cyanovinyl)-2-methyl-indoline.

5. Sterically hindered amines, for example bis (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) sebacate, bis (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpipertdin-4-yl) succinate, bis (1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethylpiperidin-4-yl) sebacate, bis (1-octyloxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) sebacate, n-butyl-3, 5-di-tert-butyl- 4-hydroxybenzylmalonic acid bis (1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethylpiperidyl) ester, condensation product of 1-hydroxyethyl-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine and succinic acid, linear or cyclic condensation products of N, N'-bis (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) hexamethylenediamine and 4-tert-octylamino-2, 6-dichloro-1, 3, 5-s-triazine, tris (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) nitrilotriacetate, tetrakis (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) 1, 2, 3, 4-butanetetraoate, 1, 1'- (1, 2- ethanediyl) bis (3, 3, 5, 5-tetramethylpiperazinone), 4-benzoyl-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine, 4-stearyloxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine, bis (1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethylpiperidyl)-2-n-butyl-2-(2- hydroxy-3, 5-di-tert-butylbenzyl) malonate, 3-n-octyl-7, 7, 9, 9-tetramethyl-1, 3, 8-triazaspiro- [4. 5] decane-2, 4-dione, bis (1-octyloxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidyl) sebacate, bis (1-octyloxy- 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidyl) succinate, linear or cyclic condensation products of N, N'- bis (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) hexamethylenediamine and 4-morpholino-2, 6-dichloro- 1, 3, 5-triazine, condensation product of 2-chloro-4, 6-di (4-n-butylamino-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl- piperidyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine and 1, 2-bis (3-aminopropylamino) ethane, condensation product of 2-chloro-4, 6-di (4-n-butylamino-1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethylpiperidyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine and 1, 2-bis (3- aminopropylamino) ethane, 8-acetyl-3-dodecyl-7, 7, 9, 9-tetramethyl-1, 3, 8-triazaspiro- [4. 5] decane-2, 4-dione, 3-dodecyl-1-(2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) pyrrolidine-2, 5-dione, 3-dodecyl-1-(1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyi) pyrrolidine-2, 5-dione, mixture of 4-hexa- decyloxy-and 4-stearyloxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine, condensation product of N, N'- bis (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-iperidyl)hexamethyledeiamine and 4-cyclohexylamino-2, 6- dichloro-1, 3, 5-triazine, condensation product of 1, 2-bis (3-aminopropylamino) ethane and 2, 4, 6-trichloro-1, 3, 5-triazine and 4-butylamino-2, 2, 6, 6-etrermethylpiperidine (CAS Reg. No.

[136504-96-6]) ; N- (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)-n-dodecylsuccinimide, N- (1, 2, 2, 6, 6- pentamethyl-4-piperidyi)-n-dodecylsuccinimide, 2-undecyl-7, 7, 9, 9-tetramethyl-1-oxa-3, 8- diaza-4-oxo-spiro [4. 5] decane, reaction product of 7, 7, 9, 9-tetramethyl-2-cycloundecyl-1-oxa- 3, 8-diaza-4-oxospiro [4. 5] decane and epichlorohydrin, 1, 1-bis (1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethyl-4- piperidyloxycarbonyl)-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) ethene, N, N'-bis-formyl-N, N'-bis (2, 2, 6, 6-tetra- methyl-4-piperidyl) hexamethylenediamine, diester of 4-methoxymethylenemalonic acid with 1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine, poly [methylpropyl-3-oxy-4- (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4- piperidyl)] siloxane, reaction product of maleic anhydride a-olefin copolymer and 2, 2, 6, 6- tetramethyl-4-aminopiperidine or 1, 2, 2, 6, 6-pentamethyl-4-aminopiperidine.

6. Oxalic acid diamides, for example 4, 4'-dioctyloxy oxanilide, 2, 2'-diethoxy oxanilide, 2, 2'- dioctyloxy-5, 5'-di-tert-butyl oxanilide, 2, 2'-didodecyloxy-5, 5'-di-tert-butyl oxanilide, 2-ethoxy- 2'-ethyl oxanilide, N, N'-bis (3-dimethylaminopropyl) oxalamide, 2-ethoxy-5-tert-butyl-2'-ethyl oxanilide and a mixture thereof with 2-ethoxy-2'-ethyl-5, 4'-di-tert-butyl oxanilide, mixtures of o-and p-methoxy-and also of o-and p-ethoxy-di-substituted oxanilides.

7. 2- (2-Hvdroxvphenvl)-1, 3, 5-triazines, for example 2, 4, 6-tris (2-hydroxy-4-octyloxyphenyl)- 1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- (2-hydroxy-4-octytoxyphenyl)-4, 6-bis (2, 4-dimethylphenyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- (2, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4, 6-bis (2, 4-dimethylphenyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2, 4-bis (2-hydroxy-4- propyloxyphenyl)-6-(2, 4-dimethylphenyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- (2-hydroxy-4-octyloxyphenyl)-4, 6- bis (4-methylphenyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- (2-hydroxy-4-dodecyloxyphenyl)-4, 6-bis (2, 4-dimethyl- phenyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- (2-hydroxy-4-tridecyloxyphenyl)-4, 6-bis (2, 4-dimethylphenyl)-1, 3, 5- triazine, 2- [2-hydroxy-4- (2-hydroxy-3-butyloxypropyloxy) phenyl]-4, 6-bis (2, 4-dimethylphenyl)- 1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- [2-hydroxy-4- (2-hydroxy-3-octyloxypropyloxy) phenyl]-4, 6-bis (2, 4-dimethyl phenyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- [4- (dodecyloxy/tridecyloxy-2-hydroxypropoxy)-2-hydroxyphenyl]-4 , 6- bis (2, 4-dimethylphenyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- [2-hydroxy-4- (2-hydroxy-3-dodecyloxypropoxyy phenyl]-4, 6-bis (2, 4-dimethylphenyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- (2-hydroxy-4-hexyloxy) phenyl-4, 6- diphenyl-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- (2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-4, 6-diphenyl-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2, 4, 6- tris [2-hydroxy-4- (3-butoxy-2-hydroxypropoxy) phenyl]-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- (2-hydroxyphenyl)-4- (4-methoxyphenyl)-6-phenyl-1, 3, 5-triazine, 2- {2-hydroxy-4- [3- (2-ethylhexyl-1-oxy)-2-hydroxy- propyloxy] phenyl}-4, 6-bis (2, 4-dimethylphenyl)-1, 3, 5-triazine.

Such light stabilisers are preferably added in an amount of from 0. 01 to 5% by weight, based on component (a).

The stable sterically hindered nitroxyl free-radicals (b) have the following structural feature, wherein R is alkyl and T is a group required to complete a 5-or 6-membered ring.

R is preferably Ct-C4alkyl, especially methyl, when it is a cyclic nitroxyl free-radical.

Two or more nitroxyl groups in the same molecule can be linked to one another by way of the group T, as shown below. E has the meaning of a spacer group such as for example a C1-C2-alkylene group.

Typical nitroxyl free-radicals are, for example : bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) sebacate, 4-hydroxy-1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl- piperidine, 4-ethoxy-1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine, 4-propoxy-1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetra- methylpiperidine, 4-acetamido-1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine, 1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetra- methylpiperidine, 1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-one, 1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl- piperidin-4-yl acetate, 1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl 2-ethylhexanoate, 1-oxy- 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl stearate, 1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl benzoate, 1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl 4-tert-butyl-benzoate, bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl- piperidin-4-yl) succinate, bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) adipate, bis (1-oxy- 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) n-butylmalonate, bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) phthalate, bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) isophthalate, bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6- tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) terephthalate, bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) hexa- hydroterephthalate, N, N'-bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) adipamide, N- (1-oxy- 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) caprolactam, N- (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)- dodecylsuccinimide, 2, 4, 6-tris [N-butyl-N- (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)]-s-triazine, 4, 4'-ethylenebis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperazin-3-one), 2-oxy-1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethyl-2- isobenzazole, 1-oxy-2, 2, 5, 5-tetramethylpyrrolidine and N, N-bis (1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylbutylF nitroxide.

Preferred nitroxyl free-radicals are : bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) sebacate, 4- hydroxy-1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine, 4-ethoxy-1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine, 4- propoxy-1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine, 4-acetamido-1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl- piperidine, 1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine and 1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-one.

Bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) sebacate and 4-hydroxy-1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetra- methylpiperidine are especially preferred.

The benzofuran-2-ones of component (b) are preferably compounds of formula (I) wherein, when n is 1, R, is naphthyl, phenanthryl, anthryl, 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl, 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro-1- naphthyl, thienyl, benzo [b] thienyl, naphtho [2, 3-b] thienyl, thianthrenyl, dibenzofuryl, chromenyl, xanthenyl, phenoxathiinyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, purinyl, quinolizinyl, isoquinolyl, quinolyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, cinnolinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, ß- carbolinyl, phenanthridinyl, acridinyl, perimidinyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenazinyl, isothiazolyl, phenothiazinyl, isoxazolyl, furazanyl, biphenyl, terphenyl, fluorenyl or phenoxazinyl, each unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, c1-C4-alkylthio, hydroxy, halogen, amino, Ct-C4alkylamino, phenylamino or by di (C,-C4alkyl) amino, or R, is a radical of formula 11 when n is 2, R, is phenylen or naphthylene, each unsubstituted or substituted by C,-C4alkyl or by hydroxy ; or is -R12-X-R13-, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each independently of the others hydrogen, chlorine, hydroxy, C,-C25alkyl, C7-Cgphenylalkyl, unsubstituted or C,-C4alkyl-substituted phenyl ; unsubstituted or C,-C4alkyl-substituted C5-C8cycloalkyl ; C,-C, ealkoxy, C,-C,8alkylthio, C,-C4alkylamino, di (C,-C4alkyl) amino, C,-Czsalkanoyloxy, C,-C25alkanoylamino, C3-C25alkenoyloxy, C3-C25alkanoyloxy interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14, ; C6-C9cycloalkyl- carbonyloxy, benzoyloxy or Ct-C, 2alkyl-substituted benzoyloxy ; or the radicals R2 and R3 or the radicals R3 and R4 or the radicals R4 and R5 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded form a benzo ring, or R4 may additionally b3-(CH2)p-COR15 or -(CH2) qOH, or when R3, R5 and R6 are hydrogen, R4 may additionally be a radical of formula III wherein R, is as defined above for n = 1, R6 is hydrogen or a radical of formula IV wherein R4 is not a radical of formula III and R is as defined above for n = 1, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R"are each independently of the others hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C,- C25alkyl, C2-C25alkyl interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 ; C1-C25alkoxy, C2-C25alkoxy interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 ; C1-C25alkylthio, C3-C25alkenyl, C3-C25alkenyloxy, C3-C25alkynyl, C3-C25alkynyloxy, c7-C9phenylakyl, C7-C9phenylakoxy, unsubstituted or C-C4alkyl-substituted phenyl ; unsubstituted or Ct-C4alkyl-substituted phenoxy ; unsubstituted or C1-C4alkyl-substituted C5-C8-cycloalkyl ; unsubstituted or C,-C4alkyl-substituted Cs-C8Cycloalkoxy ; C1-C4-alkylamino, di (Ct-C4alkyl) amino, Ci-Czsatkanoyt, C3-C25alkanoyl interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 ; C,-C25alkanoyloxy, C3-C2salkanoyloxy interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 ; C1-C25alkyanoylamino, C3-C25alkenoyl, C3-C25alkenoyl interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 ; C3-C25alkenoyloxy, C3-C25alkenoyloxy interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 ; C6-C9cycloalkylcarbonyl, C6-c9cycloalkylcarbonyloxy, benzoyl or C1-C12-alkyl- substituted benzoyl ; benzoyloxy or C-Ct2alkyl-substituted benzoyloxy ; or in formula 11 the radicals R7 and R8 or the radicals R8 and R11 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded form a benzo ring, R12 and R13 are each independently of the other unsubstituted or Ct-C4alkyl-substituted phenylen or naphthylene, Ri4 is hydrogen or C,-C8alkyl, Ris is hydroxy, , C1-C18alkoxy or Rt6 and R17 are each independently of the other hydrogen, CF3, C1-C12alkyl or phenyl, or Rig and Together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded form a C5-C8cycloalkylidene ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by from 1 to 3 Ct-C4alkyl groups ; Rig and Rig are each independently of the other hydrogen, Ct-C4alkyl or phenyl, R20 is hydrogen or C1-C4alkyl, R21 is hydrogen, unsubstituted or Ct-C4alkyl-substituted phenyl ; C,-C25alkyl, C2-C25alkyl interrupted by oxygen, suflruo ro by N-R14 ; C7-Cgphenylalkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted on the phenyl radical by from 1 to 3 Ct-C4alkyl groups ; C7-C25phenylalkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted on the phenyl radical by from 1 to 3 C1-C4alkyl groups and interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14, or the radicals R20 and R21 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded form a c5-C21cycloalkylene ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by from 1 to 3 Ct-C4alkyl groups ; R22 is hydrogen or C1-C4alkyl, R23 is hydrogen, C,-C25alkanoyl, C3-Cz5alkenoyl, C3-C25alkanoyl interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14, ; C2-C25alkanoyl substituted by a di (Ct-C6alkyl) phosphonate group ; C6- Cgcycloalkylcarbonyl, thenoyl, furoyl, benzoyl or C1-C12alkyl-substituted benzoyl ; R24 and R25 are each independently of the other hydrogen or C1-C18alkyl, R26 is hydrogen or Cl-C, 3alkyl, R27 is a direct bond, C1-C18-alkylene, C2-C18alkylene interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 ; C2-C18alkenylene, C2-C20alkylidene, C7-C20phenylalkylidene, C5-C8cyclo- alkylen, C7-C8bicycloalkylene, unsubstituted or !-substituted phenylen, R28 is hydroxy, , C1-C18alkoxy or R29 is oxygen,-NH-or R30 is C1-C18alkyl or phenyl, Rai is hydrogen or C1-C18alkyl, M is an r-valent metal cation, X is a direct bond, oxygen, sulfur or-NR31-, n is 1 or 2, p is 0, 1 or 2, qis1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, ris 1, 2or3, and s is 0, 1 or 2.

Naphthyl, phenanthryl, anthryl, 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl, 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl, thienyl, benzo [b] thienyl, naphtho [2, 3-b] thienyl, thianthrenyl, dibenzofuryl, chromenyl, xanthenyl, phenoxathiinyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyi, indolyl, indazolyl, purinyl, quinolizinyl, isoquinolyl, quinolyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, cinnolinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, ß-carbolinyl, phenanthridinyl, acridinyl, perimidinyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenazinyl, isothiazolyl, pheno- thiazinyl, isoxazolyl, furazanyl, biphenyl, terphenyl, fluorenyl or phenoxazinyl, each unsub- stituted or substituted by Ct-C4alkyi, Ct-C4alkoxy, Ct-C4alkylthio, hydroxy, halogen, amino, Ct-C4alkylamino, phenytamino or by di (Ct-C4alkyl) amino, is, for example, 1-naphthyl, 2- naphthyl, 1-phenylamino-4-naphthyl, 1-methyinaphthyl, 2-methylnaphthyl, 1-methoxy-2- naphthyl, 2-methoxy-1-naphthyl, 1-dimethylamino-2-naphthyl, 1, 2-dimethyl-4-naphthyl, 1, 2- dimethyl-6-naphthyl, 1, 2-dimethyl-7-naphthyl, 1, 3-dimethyl-6-naphthyl, 1, 4-dimethyl-6- naphthyl, 1, 5-dimethyl-2-naphthyl, 1, 6-dimethyl-2-naphthyl, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthyl, 2-hydroxy- 1-naphthyl, 1, 4-dihydroxy-2-naphthyl, 7-phenanthryl, 1-anthryl, 2-anthryl, 9-anthryl, 3- benzo [b] thienyl, 5-benzo [b] thienyl, 2-benzo [b] thienyl, 4-dibenzofuryl, 4, 7-dibenzofuryl, 4- methyl-7-dibenzofuryl, 2-xanthenyl, 8-methyl-2-xanthenyl, 3-xanthenyl, 2-phenoxathiinyl, 2, 7- phenoxathiinyl, 2-pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolyl, 5-methyl-3-pyrrolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl, 5- imidazolyl, 2-methyl-4-imidazolyl, 2-ethyl-4-imidazolyl, 2-ethyl-5-imidazolyl, 3-pyrazolyl, 1- methyl-3-pyrazolyl, 1-propyl-4-pyrazolyl, 2-pyrazinyl, 5, 6-dimethyl-2-pyrazinyl, 2-indolizinyl, 2- methyl-3-isoindolyl, 2-methyl-1-isoindolyl, 1-methyl-2-indolyl, 1-methyl-3-indolyl, 1, 5- dimethyl-2-indolyl, 1-methyl-3-indazolyl, 2, 7-dimethyl-8-purinyl, 2-methoxy-7-methyl-8- purinyl, 2-quinolizinyl, 3-isoquinolyl, 6-isoquinolyl, 7-isoquinolyl, isoquinolyl, 3-methoxy-6- isoquinolyl, 2-quinolyl, 6-quinolyl, 7-quinolyl, 2-methoxy-3-quinolyl, 2-methoxy-6-quinolyl, 6- phthalazinyl, 7-phthalazinyl, 1-methoxy-6-phthalazinyl, 1, 4-dimethoxy-6-phthalazinyl, 1, 8- naphthyridin-2-yl, 2-quinoxalinyl, 6-quinoxalinyl, 2, 3-dimethyl-6-quinoxalinyl, 2, 3-dimethoxy- 6-quinoxalinyl, 2-quinazolinyl, 7-quinazolinyl, 2-dimethylamino-6-quinazolinyl, 3-cinnolinyl, 6- cinnolinyl, 7-cinnolinyl, 3-methoxy-7-cinnolinyl, 2-pteridinyl, 6-pteridinyl, 7-pteridinyl, 6, 7- dimethoxy-2-pteridinyl, 2-carbazolyl, 3-carbazolyl, 9-methyl-2-carbazolyl, 9-methyl-3-carb- azolyl, P-carbolin-3-yl, 1-methyl-i-carbolin-3-yl, 1-methyl-p-carbolin-6-yl, 3-phenanthridinyl, 2-acridinyl, 3-acridinyl, 2-perimidinyl, 1-methyl-5-perimidinyl, 5-phenanthrolinyl, 6-phen- anthrolinyl, 1-phenzainyl, 2-phenazinyl, 3-isothiazolyl, 5-isothiazolyl, 5-isothiazolyl, 2-pheno- thiazinyl, 3-phenothiazinyl, 10-methyl-3-phenothiazinyl, 3-isoxazolyl, 4-isoxazolyl, 5-isox- azolyl, 4-methyl-3-furazanyl, 2-phenoxazinyl or 10-methyl-2-phenoxazinyl.

Special preference is given to naphthyl, phenanthryl, anthryl, 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl, 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl, thienyl, benzo [b] thienyl, naphtho [2, 3-b] thienyl, thianthrenyl, dibenzofuryl, chromenyl, xanthenyl, phenoxathiinyl, pyrrolyl, isoindolyl, indolyl, pheno- thiazinyl, biphenyl, terphenyl, fluorenyl or phenoxazinyl, each unsubstituted or substituted by C,-C4alkyl, C,-C4alkoxy, C,-C4alkylthio, hydroxy, phenylamino or by di (C,-C4alkyl) amino, for example 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 1-phenylamino-4-naphthyl, 1-methylnaphthyl, 2-methyl- naphthyl, 1-methoxy-2-naphthyl, 2-methoxy-l-naphthyl, 1-dimethylamino-2-naphthyl, 1, 2- dimethyl-4-naphthyl, 1, 2-dimethyl-6-naphthyl, 1, 2-dimethyl-7-naphthyl, 1, 3-dimethyl-6- naphthyl, 1, 4-dimethyl-6-naphthyl, 1, 5-dimethyl-2-naphthyl, 1, 6-dimethyl-2-naphthyl, 1- hydroxy-2-naphthyl, 2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl, 1, 4-dihydroxy-2-naphthyl, 7-phenanthryl, 1- anthryl, 2-anthryl, 9-anthryl, 3-benzo [b] thienyl, 5-benzo [b] thienyl, 2-benzo [b] thienyl, 4-di- benzofuryl, 4, 7-dibenzofuryl, 4-methyl-7-dibenzofuryl, 2-xanthenyl, 8-methyl-2-xanthenyl, 3- xanthenyl, 2-pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolyl, 2-phenothiazinyl, 3-phenothiazinyl, 10-methyl-3-pheno- thiazinyl.

Halogen is, for example, chlorine, bromine or iodine. Chlorine is preferred.

Alkanol having up to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butanoyl, pentanol, hexanoyl, heptanoyl, octanoyl, nonanoyl, decanol, undecanoyl, dodecanoyl, tridecanoyl, tetradecanoyl, pentadecanoyl, hexa- decanol, heptadecanoyl, octadecanoyl, eicosanoyl or docosanoyl. Alkanoyl having from 2 to 18, especially from 2 to 12, e. g. from 2 to 6, carbon atoms is preferred. Acetyl is especially preferred.

C2-C25AIkanoyl substituted by a di (C1-C6alkyl) phosphonate group is, for example, (CH3CH20) 2POCH2CO-, (CH30) 2POCH2CO-, (CH3CH2CH2CH20) 2POCH2CO-, (CH3CH20) 2POCH2CH2CO-, (CH30) 2POCH2CH2CO-, (CH3CH2CH2CH20) 2POCH2CH2CO-, (CH3CH20) 2PO (CH2) 4CO-, (CH3CH20) 2PO (CH2) 8CO- or (CH3CH20) 2PO (CH2) 17CO-.

Alkanoyloxy having up to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example formyloxy, acetoxy, propionyloxy, butanoyloxy, pentanoyloxy, hexanoyloxy, heptanoyloxy, octanoyloxy, nonanoyloxy, decanoyloxy, undecanoyloxy, dodecanoyloxy, tridecanoyloxy, <BR> <BR> tetradecanoyloxy, pentadecanoyloxy, hexadecanoyloxy, heptadecanoyloxy, octadecanoyS oxy, eicosanoyloxy or docosanoyloxy. Alkanoyloxy having from 2 to 18, especially from 2 to 12, e. g. from 2 to 6, carbon atoms is preferred. Acetoxy is especially preferred.

Alkenyl having from 3 to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example propenoyl, 2-butenoyl, 3-butenoyl, isobutenoyl, n-2, 4-pentadienoyl, 3-methyl-2-butenoyl, n-2- octenoyl, n-2-dodecenoyl, isododecenoyl, oleoyl, n-2-octadecenoyl or n-4-octadecenoyl.

Alkenyl having from 3 to 18, especially from 3 to 12, e. g. from 3 to 6, more especially 3 or 4, carbon atoms is preferred.

C3-C2sAlkenoyl interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 is, for example, CH30CH2CH2CH=CHCO-or CH30CH2CH20CH=CHCO-.

Alkenoyloxy having from 3 to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example propenoyloxy, 2-butenoyloxy, 3-butenoyloxy, isobutenoyloxy, n-2, 4-pentadienoyS oxy, 3-methyl-2-butenoyloxy, n-2-octenoyloxy, n-2-dodecenoyloxy, isododecenoyloxy, oleoyloxy, n-2-octadecenoyloxy or n-4-octadecenoyloxy. Alkenoyloxy havng from 3 to 18, especially from 3 to 12, e. g. from 3 to 6, more especially 3 or 4, carbon atoms is preferred.

C3-C25AIkenoyloxy interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 is, for example, CH30CH2CH2CH=CHCOO-or CH30CH2CH20CH=CHCOO-.

C3-C25AIkanoyl interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by NR 4 is, for example, CH3-O-CH2CO-, CH3-S-CH2CO-, CH3-NH-CH2CO-, CH3-N (CH3)-CH2CO-, <BR> <BR> CH3-O-CH2CH2-O-CH2CO-, CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 20-CH2CO-, CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 30-CH2CO- or<BR> <BR> CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 40-CH2CO-.

C3-C25AIkanoyloxy interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-R14 is, for example, CH3-O-CHzCOO-, CH3-S-CHZCOO-, CH3-NH-CH2COO-, CH3-N (CH3)-CH2COO-, CH3-O-CH2CH2-O-CH2COO-, CH3-(O-CH2CH2)2O-CH2COO-, CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 30-CH2COO- or CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 40-CH2COO-.

C6-C9Cycloalkylcarbonyl is, for example, cyclohexylcarbonyl, cycloheptylcarbonyl or cyclooctylcarbonyl. Cyclohexylcarbonyl is preferred.

C6-C9Cycloalkylcaronyloxy is, for example, cyclohexylcarbonyloxy, cycloheptylcarbonyloxy or cyclooctylcarbonyloxy. Cyclohexylcarbonyloxy is preferred.

C,-C,2Alkyl-substituted benzoyl, which preferably carries from 1 to 3, especially 1 or 2, alkyl groups, is, for example, o-, m-or p-methylbenzoyl, 2, 3-dimethylbenzoyl, 2, 4-dimethyl- benzoyl, 2, 5-dimethylbenzoyl, 2, 6-dimethylbenzoyl, 3, 4-dimethylbenzoyl, 3, 5-dimethyl- benzoyl, 2-methyl-6-ethylbenzoyl, 4-tert-butylbenzoyl, 2-ethylbenzoyl, 2, 4, 6-trimethylbenzoyl, 2, 6-dimethyl-4-tert-butylbenzoyl or 3, 5-di-tert-butylbenzoyl. Preferred substituents are Ct-C8alkyl, especially Ct-C4alkyl.

Ct-Ct2Alkyl-substituted benzoyloxy, which preferably carries from 1 to 3, especially 1 or 2, alkyl groups, is, for example, o-, m-or p-methylbenzoyloxy, 2, 3-dimethylbenzoyloxy, 2, 4- dimethylbenzoyloxy, 2, 5-dimethylbenzoyloxy, 2, 6-dimethylbenzoyloxy, 3, 4-dimethybenzoyl- oxy, 3, 5-dimethylbenzoyloxy, 2-methyl-6-ethylbenzoyloxy, 4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy, 2-ethyS benzoyloxy, 2, 4, 6-trimethylbenzoyloxy, 2, 6-dimethyl-4-tert-butybenzoyloxy or 3, 5-di-tert- butylbenzoyloxy. Preferred substituents are Ct-C8alkyl, especially Ct-C4alkyl.

Alkyl having up to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, 2-ethylbutyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, 1-methylpentyl, 1, 3-dimethylbutyl, n-hexyl, 1-methylhexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, 1, 1, 3, 3- tetramethylbutyl, 1-methylheptyl, 3-methylheptyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, 1, 1, 3-trimethylhexyl, 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylpentyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, 1-methylundecyl, dodecyl, 1, 1, 3, 3, 5, 5- hexamethylhexyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl or docosyl. One of the preferred meanings of R2 and R4 is, for example, Cl-C,, 3alkyl. An especially preferred meaning of R4 is C,-C4alkyl.

Alkenyl having from 3 to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example propenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, isobutenyl, n-2, 4-pentadienyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, n-2-octenyl, n-2-dodecenyl, isododecenyl, oleyl, n-2-octadecenyl or n-4-octadecenyl. Alkenyl having from 3 to 18, especially from 3 to 12, e. g. from 3 to 6, more especially 3 or 4, carbon atoms is preferred.

Alkenyloxy having from 3 to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example propenyloxy, 2-butenyloxy, 3-butenyloxy, isobutenyloxy, n-2, 4-pentadienyloxy, 3- methyl-2-butenyloxy, n-2-octenyloxy, n-2-dodecenyloxy, isododecenyloxy, oleyloxy, n-2- octadecenyloxy or n-4-octadecenyloxy. Alkenyloxy having from 3 to 18, especially from 3 to 12, e. g. from 3 to 6, more especially 3 or 4, carbon atoms is preferred.

Alkynyl having from 3 to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example propynyl 2-butynyl, 3-butynyl, n-2-octynyl or n-2-dodecynyl. Alkynyl having from 3 to 18, especially from 3 to 12, e. g. from 3 to 6, more especially 3 or 4, carbon atoms is preferred.

Alkynyloxy having from 3 to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example propynyloxy 2-butynyloxy, 3-butynytoxy, n-2-octynyloxy or n-2-dodecynyloxy. Alkynyloxy having from 3 to 18, especially from 3 to 12, e. g. from 3 to 6, moe especially 3 or 4, carbon atoms is preferred.

C2-C25AIkyl interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by jN-R4 is, for example, CH3-0-CH2-, CH3-S-CH2-, CH3-NH-CH2-, CH3-N (CH3)-CH2-, CH3-0-CH2CH2-0-CH2-, CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 20-CH2-, CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 30-CH2- or CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 40-CH2-.

C7-CgPhenylalkyl is, for example, benzyl, a-methylbenzyl, a, a-dimethylbenzyl or 2-phenyl ethyl. Benzyl and a, a-dimethylbenzyl are preferred.

C7-CgPhenylalkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted on the phenyl radical by from 1 to 3 C,-C4alkyl groups is, for example, benzyl, a-methylbenzyl, a, a-dimethylbenzyl, 2-phenylethyl, 2-methylbenzyl, 3-methylbenzyl, 4-methylbenzyl, 2, 4-dimethylbenzyl, 2, 6-dimethybenzyl or 4-tert-butylbenzyl. Benzyl is preferred.

C7-C25Phenylalkyl unsubstituted or substituted on the phenyl radical by from 1 to 3 Ct-C4alkyl groups and interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by/NRt4 is a branched or unbranched radical, for example phenoxymethyl, 2-methyl-phenoxymethyl, 3-methyl-phenoxymethyl, 4- methyl-phenoxymethyl, 2, 4-dimethyl-phenoxymethyl, 2, 3-dimethyl-phenoxymethyl, phenyl thiomethyl, N-methyl-N-phenyl-aminomethyl, N-ethyl-N-phenyl-aminomethyl, 4-tert-butyl- phenoxymethyl, 4-tert-butyl-phenoxyethoxy-methyl, 2, 4-di-tert-bvutyl-phenoxymethyl, 2, 4-di- tert-butyl-phenoxyethoxymethyl, phenoxyethoxyethoxyethoxymethyl, benzyloxymethyl, benzyloxyethoxymethyl, N-benzyl-N-ethyl-aminomethyl or N-benzyl-N-isopropyl-amino methyl.

C7-C9Phenylalkoxy is, for example, benzyloxy, a-methylbenzyloxy, a, a-dimethylbenzyloxy or 2-phenylethoxy. Benzyloxy is preferred.

Ct-C4Alkyl-substituted phenyl, which contains preferably from 1 to 3, especially 1 or 2, alkyl groups, is, for example, o-, m-or p-methylphenyl, 2, 3-dimethylphenyl, 2, 4-dimethylphenyl, 2, 5-dimethylphenyl, 2, 6-dimethylphenyl, 3, 4-dimethylphenyl, 3, 5-dimethylphenyl, 2-methyl-6- ethylphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 2-ethylphenyl or 2, 6-diethylphenyl.

Ct-C4Alkyl-substituted phenoxy, which contains preferably from 1 to 3, especially 1 or 2, alkyl groups, is, for example, o-, m-or p-methylphenoxy, 2, 3-dimethylphenoxy, 2, 4-dimethyl- phenoxy, 2, 5-dimethylphenoxy, 2, 6-dimethylphenoxy, 3, 4-dimethyhenoxy, 3, 5-dimethyl- phenoxy, 2-methyl-6-ethylphenoxy, 4-tert-butylphenoxy, 2-ethylphenoxy or 2, 6-diethy phenoxy.

Unsubstituted or C,-C4alkyl-substituted C5-C8cycloalkyl is, for example, cyclopentyl, methylcyclopentyl, dimethylcyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, methylcyclohexyl, dimethylcyclohexyl, trimethylcyclohexyl, tert-butylcyclohexyl, cycloheptyl or cyclooctyl. Cyclohexyl and tert- butylcyclohexyl are preferred.

Unsubstituted or C,-C4alkyl-substituted C5-C8cycloalkoxy is, for example, cyclopentyloxy, methylcyclopentyloxy, dimethylcyclopentyloxy, cyclohexyloxy, methylcyclohexyloxy, dimethylcyclohexyloxy, trimethylcyclohexyloxy, tert-butylcyclohexyloxy, cycloheptyloxy or cyclooctyloxy. Cyclohexyloxy and tert-butylcyclohexyloxy are preferred.

Alkoxy having up to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, isobutoxy, pentyloxy, isopentyloxy, hexyS oxy, heptyloxy, octyloxy, decyloxy, tetradecyloxy, hexadecyloxy or octadecyloxy. Alkoxy having from 1 to 12, especially from 1 to 8, e. g. from 1 to 6, carbon atoms is preferred.

C2-C25AIkoxy interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by/N-R4 is, for example, CH3-O-CH2CH20-, CH3-S-CH2CH20-, CH3-NH-CH2CH20-, CH3-N (CH3)-CH2CH20-, CH3-O-CH2CH2-O-CH2CH20-, CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 20-CH2CH20-, CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 30-CH2CH20- or CH3- (O-CH2CH2-) 40-CH2CH20-.

Alkylthio having up to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, isopropylthio, n-butylthio, isobutyfthio, pentylthio, isopentyl- thio, hexylthio, heptylthio, octylthio, decylthio, tetradecylthio, hexadecylthio or octadecylthio.

Alkylthio having from 1 to 12, especially from 1 to 8, e. g. from 1 to 6, carbon atoms is preferred.

Alkylamino having up to 4 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example methylamino, ethylamino, propylamino, isopropylamino, n-butylamino, isobutylamino or tert- butylamino.

Di (C,-C4alkyl) amino means that the two radicals are each independently of the other branched or unbranched, for example dimethylamino, methylethylamino, diethylamino, methyl-n-propylamino, methylisopropylamino, methyl-n-butylamino, methylisobutylamino, ethylisopropylamino, ethyl-n-butylamino, ethylisobutylamino, ethyl-tert-butylamino, diethyS amino, diisopropylamino, isopropyl-n-butylamino, isopropylisobutylamino, di-n-butylamino or diisobutylamino.

Alkanoylamino having up to 25 carbon atoms is a branched or unbranched radical, for example formylamino, acetylamino, propionylamino, butanoylamino, pentanoylamino, hexanoylamino, heptanoylamino, octanoylamino, nonanoylamino, decanoylamino, undecanoylamino, dodecanoylamino, tridecanoylamino, tetradecanoylamino, pentadecanoyS amino, hexadecanoylamino, heptadecanoylamino, octadecanoylamino, eicosanoylamino or docosanoylamino. Alkanoylamino having from 2 to 18, especially from 2 to 12, e. g. from 2 to 6, carbon atoms is preferred.

Ct-Ct8Alkylene is a branched or unbranched radical, for example methylene, ethylene, propylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene, hexamethylene, heptamethylene, octamethylene, decamethylene, dodecamethylene or octadecamethylene. C1-C12Alkylene, especially C-C8alkylene, is preferred.

An unsubstituted or Ct-C4alkyl-substituted C5-Ct2cycloalkylene ring, which preferably contains from 1 to 3, especially 1 or 2, branched or unbranched alkyl groups, is, for example, cyclopentylene, methylcyclopentylene, dimethylcyclopentylene, cyclohexylene, methylcyclo- hexylen, dimethytcyclohexylene, trimethylcyclohexylene, tert-butylcyclohexylene, cyclo- heptylen, cyclooctylene or cyclodecylene. Cyclohexylene and tert-butylcyclohexylene are preferred.

C2-C, BAlkylene interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or by N-Rl4 is, for example,-CH2-O-CH2-, <BR> <BR> <BR> -CH2-S-CH2-,-CH2-NH-CH2-,-CH2-N (CH3)-CH2-,-CH2-0-CH2CH2-0-CH2-,<BR> <BR> -CH2-(O-CH2CH2-) 20-CH2-,-CH2-(O-CH2CH2-) 30-CH2-,-CH2-(O-CH2CH2-) 40-CH2-or<BR> <BR> -CH2CH2-S-CH2CH2-.

C2-C,BAlkenylene is, for example, vinylene, methylvinylene, octenylethylene or dodecenyl ethylene. C2-C8Alkenylene is preferred.

Alkyliden having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms is, for example, ethylidene, propylidene, butylidene, pentylidene, 4-methylpentylidene, heptylidene, nonylidene, tridecylidene, nonadecylidene, 1-methylethylidene, 1-ethylpropylidene or 1-ethylpentylidene.

C2-CeAlkylidene is preferred.

Phenylalkylidene having from 7 to 20 carbon atoms is, for example, benzylidene, 2-phenyl- ethyliden or 1-phenyl-2-hexylidene. C7-CgPhenylalkylidene is preferred.

C5-C8C6ycloalkylene is a saturated hydrocarbon group having two free valencies and at least one ring unit and is, for example, cyclopentylene, cyclohexylene, cycloheptylene or cyclo- octylene. Cyclohexylene is preferred.

C7-CeBicycloalkylene is, for example, bicycloheptylene or bicyclooctylene.

Unsubstituted or C1-C4alkyl-substituted phenylene or naphthylene is, for example, 1, 2-, 1, 3-, 1, 4-phenylene, 1, 2-, 1, 3-, 1, 4-, 1, 6-, 1, 7-, 2, 6- or 2, 7-naphthylene. 1, 4-Phenylene is preferred.

An unsubstituted or C,-C4alkyl-substituted C5-C8cycloalkylidene ring, which contains prefer- ably from 1 to 3, especially 1 or 2, branched or unbranched alkyl groups, is, for example, cyclopentylidene, methylcyclopentylidene, dimethylcyclopentylidene, cyclohexylidene, methylcyclohexylidene, dimethylcyclohexylidene, trimethylcylcohenxylidene, tert-butylcyclo- hexylidene, cycloheptylidene or cyclooctylidene. Cyclohexylidene and tert-butylcyclohexyS idene are preferred.

A mono-, di-or tri-valent metal cation is preferably an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or aluminium cation, for example Na+, K+, Mg++, Ca'or Al".

Preferred benzofuran-2-ones are those of formula (I) wherein, when n is 1, R, is phenyl unsubstituted or substituted in the para-position by C,-C, 8alkylthio or by di (C,-C4alkyl) amino ; mono-to penta-substituted alkylphenyl having a sum total of a maximum of 18 carbon atoms in its 1 to 5 alkyl substituents ; or naphthyl, biphenyl, terphenyl, phenanthryl, anthryl, fluorenyl, carbazolyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, phenothiazinyl or 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydronaphthyl, each unsubstituted or substituted by Ct-C4alkyl, C,-C4alkoxy, C,-C4alkylthio, hydroxy or by amino.

Preference is also given to benzofuran-2-ones of formula I wherein, when n is 2, R, is-R, 2-X-R, 3-, R, 2 and R, 3 are phenylen, X is oxygen or-NR3,-, and R3, is C-C4alkyl.

A group of benzofuran-2-ones that is likewise preferred comprises those of formula I wherein, when n is 1, R, is naphthyl, phenanthryl, thienyl, dibenzofuryl, carbazolyl or fluorenyl, each unsubstituted or substituted by C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-alkylthio, hydroxy, halogen, amino, C,-C4- alkylamino or by di (C1-C4alkyl) amino, or is a radical of formula 11 R7, R8, R9, Rio and Roll are each independently of the others hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, hydroxy, C1-C18alkyl, C2-C18alkyl interrupted by oxygen or by sulfur ; C1-C18alkoxy, C2-C, 8alkoxy interrupted by oxygen or by sulfur ; C1-C18alkylthio, C3-C12alkenyloxy, C3-C12- alkynyloxy, C7-Cgphenylalkyl, C7-Cgphenylalkoxy, unsubstituted or Ct-C4alkyl-substituted phenyl ; phenoxy, cyclohexyl, C5-C6cycloalkoxy, C,-C4alkylamino, di (C1-C40-alkyl) amino, C1-C12alkanoyl, C3-C12alkanoyl interrupted by oxygen or by sulfur ; C1-C12alkanoyloxy, C3-C, 2alkanoyloxy interrupted by oxygen or by sulfur ; C,-C, 2alkanoylamino, C3-C, 2alkenoyl, C3-C12alkenoxyly, cyclohexylcaronyl, cyclohexylcarbonyloxy, benzoyl or C-C4alkyl- substituted benzoyl ; benzoyloxy or C,-C4alkyl-substituted benzoyloxy ; , or in formula 11 the radicals R7 and R8 or the radicals R8 and Together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded form a benzo ring, R15 is hydroxy, C,-C, 2alkoxy or Rie and Rig are each independently of the other hydrogen or C1-C4alkyl, R20 is hydrogen, R21 is hydrogen, phenyl, C,-C, ealkyl, C2-C,8alkyl interrupted by oxygen or by sulfur ; C7-C9- phenylalkyl, or C7-C18aphenylakyl unsubstituted or substituted on the phenyl radical by from 1 to 3 Ct-C4alkyl groups and interrupted by oxygen or by sulfur, or the radicals R20 and R21 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded form a cyclohexylene ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by from 1 to 3 C,-C4alkyl groups, R22 is hydrogen or C1-C4alkyl, R23 is hydrogen, Cl-Cl8alkanoyl, C3-C, 8alkenoyl, C3-Cl2alkanoyl interrupted by oxygen or by sulfur ; C2-C12alkanoyl substituted by a di (Ct-C6alkyl) phosphonate group ; C6-Cgcycloalkyl- carbonyl, benzoyl, R24 and R25 are each independently of the other hydrogen or Cl-C, 2alkyl, R26 is hydrogen or C1-C4alkyl, R27 is C1-C12alkylene, C2-C8alkenylene, C2-C8alkylidene, C7-C12phenylalkylidnene, C5-C8- cycloalkylene or phenylen, R28 is hydroxy, C1-C12alkoxy or R29 is oxygen or-NH-, R30 is Ct-C, 8alkyl or phenyl, and sis1 or2.

Preference is also given to benzofuran-2-ones of formula I wherein, when n is 1, R1 is phenanthryl, thienyl, dibenzofuryl, unsubstituted or C :-C4alkyl-substituted carbazolyl ; or fluorenyl ; or R, is a radical of formula 11 R7, R8, Rg, Rio and R are each independently of the others hydrogen, chlorine, hydroxy, C,-C, Balkyl, C,-C, Balkoxy, C,-C, 8alkylthio, C3-C4alkenyloxy, C3-C4alkynyloxy, phenyl, benzoyl, benzoyloxy or R20 is hydrogen, R2, is hydrogen, phenyl or C1-C18alkyl, or the radicals R20 and R2t together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded form a cyclohexylene ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by from 1 to 3 Ciatky) groups, R22 is hydrogen or Ct-C4alkyl, and R23 is hydrogen, C1-C12alknaoyl or benzoyl.

Special preference is given to benzofuran-2-ones of formula I wherein, when n is 1, R7, Re, Rg, Rio and Roll are each independently of the others hydrogen, C1-C12alkyl, Ct-C4alkylthio or phenyl.

Of special interest are benzofuran-2-ones of formula I wherein R2, R3, R4 and R5 are each independently of the others hydrogen, chlorine, C,-C, 8alkyl, benzyl, phenyl, C5-C8Cycloalkyl, C1-C18alkoxy, C1-C18alkylthio, C1-C18alkanoyloxy, C1-C18- alkanoylamino, C3-C, 8alkenoyloxy or benzoyloxy ; or the radicals R2 and R3 or the radicals R3 and R4 or the radicals R4 and R5 together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded form a benzo ring, or R4 may additionally be- (CH2) p-COR, 5 or- (CH2) qOH, or when R3, R5 and R6 are hydrogen, R4 may additionally be a radical of formula 111, R,5 is hydroxy, C,-C, 2alkoxy or Rie and R17 are methyl groups or together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded form a C5-C8cycloalkylidene ring that is unsubstituted or substituted by from 1 to 3 C1-C5alkyl groups, R24 and R25 are each independently of the other hydrogen or Ct-Ct2alkyl, p is 1 or2, and qis2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

Also of special interest are benzofuran-2-ones of formula I wherein at least two of the radicals R2, R3, R4 and R5 are hydrogen.

Especially interesting compositions are those comprising as component (c) (i) at least one compound of formula I wherein R3 and R5 are hydrogen.

Very special preference is given to benzofuran-2-ones of formula I wherein R2 is Ct-C4alkyl, R3 is hydrogen, R4 is Ct-C4alkyl or, when R6 is hydrogen, R4 may additionally be a radical of formula Ni, R5 is hydrogen, and Pie and Ri together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded form a cyclohexylidene ring.

The following compounds are examples of the benzofuran-2-one type that are especially suitable as component (b) in the composition according to the invention : 3- [4- (2-acetoxy- ethoxy) phenyl]-5, 7-di-tert-butyl-benzofuran-2-one ; 5, 7-di-tert-butyl-3- [4- (2-stearoyloxy- ethoxy) phenyl]-benzofuran-2-one ; 3, 3'-bis [5, 7-di-tert-butyl-3- (4- [2-hydroxyethoxy] phenyl)- benzofuran-2-one] ; 5, 7-di-tert-butyl-3- (4-ethoxyphenyl) benzofuran-2-one ; 3- (4-acetoxy-3, 5- dimethylphenyl)-5, 7-di-tert-butyl-benzofuran-2-one ; 3- (3, 5-dimethyl-4-pivaloyloxy-phenyl)- 5, 7-di-tert-butyl-benzofuran-2-one ; 5, 7-di-tert-butyl-3-phenyl-benzofuran-2-one ; 5, 7-di-tert- butyl-3- (3, 4-dimethylphenyl)-benzofuran-2-one ; 5, 7-di-tert-butyl-3- (2, 3-dimethylphenyl)- benzofuran-2-one.

Very special preference is given to benzofuran-2-ones of formula V wherein R2 is hydrogen or C,-C6alkyl, R3 is hydrogen, R4 is hydrogen or C1-C6alkyl, R5 is hydrogen, R7, R8, R9, Rio and R11 are each independently of the others hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4- alkoxy or , with the proviso that at least two of the radicals R7, R8, Rg, Rio and Ru are hydrogen, R20, R21 and R22 are hydrogen, and R23 is C2-C4alkanoyl.

Special preference is given to benzofuran-2-ones of formula Va or Vb or a mixture of the two compounds of formulae Va and Vb.

The compounds of the benzofuran-2-one type as component (b) are known in the literature and the preparation thereof is described, for example, in US 5 516 920.

Component (b) is added preferably in an amount of from 0. 0001 to 10% by weight, espe- cially from 0. 001 to 7% by weight and more especially from 0. 002 to 5% by weight, based on the monomer, oligomer, co-oligomer, polymer or copolymer.

If a mixture of a stable sterically hindered nitroxyl free-radical and a compound of the benzofuran-2-one type is used, the ratio by weight is preferably from 1 : 10 to 10 : 1.

The invention relates also to a method of increasing the storage stablity and preventing premature polymerisation or crosslinking of a1) at least one oligomer, co-oligomer, polymer or copolymer or a mixture thereof having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond ; or a2) a mixture of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer with at least one oligomer, co-oligomer, polymer or copolymer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond, which method comprises adding at least one stable sterically hindered nitroxyl free-radical or at least one compound of the benzofuran-2-one type or a mixture of the two compounds.

The present invention relates also to the use of a stable sterically hindered nitroxyl free- radical or a compound of the benzofuran-2-one type or a mixture of the two compounds for increasing the storage stability and preventing premature polymerisation or crosslinking of a1) at least one oligomer, co-otigomer, polymer or copolymer or a mixture thereof having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond ; or a2) a mixture of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer with at least one oligomer, co-oligomer, polymer or copolymer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond.

The definitions and preferred meanings mentioned above apply also to the claimed method and to the use of the stabilisers.

The following Examples illustrate the invention.

Example 1 Table 1 : Composition of the coating 51 parts aliphatic urethane diacrylate Ebecryl 4858 (UCB Chemicals) unstabilised 10 parts tripropylene glycol diacrylate (UCB Chemicals) unstabilised 13 parts trimethylolpropane triacrylate (UCB Chemicals) unstabilised 0. 5 part Byk 300 flow-control agent (Byk-Chemie) 0. 22 part IrgacureX 819 bisacylphosphine oxide (Ciba Spezialltäten Chemie AG) 2 parts Irgacure 184@ a-hydroxyketone (Ciba Spezialitäten Chemie AG) The stabilisers indicated in Tables 2 and 3 and optionally light stabilisers are incorporated into the composition described above. The formulations are applied with a doctor blade to a white coil-coated aluminium sheet so that a dry film thickness of 45 Zm is obtained. The coating film is cured using 2X120 W/cm medium-pressure mercury vapour lamps at 5 m/min.

The sheet is divided into three parts.

One part is left without after-treatment, while the second part is again irradiated with 2X120 W/cm. The third part is stored in a circulating-air oven for 30 min at 130°C.

The samples are then left at room temperature for 15 min and 4 h after the curing and the after-treatment, and the yellowing b* according to DIN 6174 of each sample is measured.

A higher b* value indicates a higher degree of yellowing. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2 : b* value according to DIN 6174 Treatment without 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% additive toiluqinone Comp. 101 Comp. 201 Cmp. 102 1 X 5 m/min 15 min 4.2 4.5 4.4 4.4 4.1 4h 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.5 2X5 m/min 15 min 4.7 4.9 4.6 4.8 4.7 4h 4.0 4.2 4.0 4.1 4.0 30 min 130°C 15 min 1.0 1.3 0.9 1.1 1.1 4h 1.1 1.3 0.9 1.2 1.2 Table 3 : b* value according to DIN 6174 Treatment without 0. 02% 0. 02% 0. 02% 0. 02% additive toluquinone Comp. 101 Comp. 201 Comp. 102 1 X 5 m/min 15 min 3.4 3.5 3.2 3.4 3.3 4 h 2. 9 3.1 2. 9 3. 0 2. 9 2X5 m/min 15 min 4.2 4.4 4.1 4.3 4.2 4h 3.7 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.7 30 min 130°C 15 min 2. 4 2. 6 2. 2 2. 3 2. 5 4 h 2. 5 2. 7 2. 3 2. 4 2. 6 All formulations in Table 3 contain additional light stabilisers : 1. 5% Tinuvin 400 + 1. 0% Tinuvin 292 (% by weight, based on monomer and oligomer).

The storage stability of the stabilised samples in Tables 2 and 3 is more than 3 months at 60°C.

Example 2 Table 4 : Composition of the coating 51 parts aliphatic urethane hexaacrylate Ebecryl 1290 (UCB Chemicals) unstabilised 30 parts isopropanol (Fluka Chemicals) 13 parts trimethylolpropane triacryalate (UCB Chemicals) unstabilised 0. 19 part lrgacure# 819 bisacylphosphine oxide (Ciba Spezialitaten Chemie AG) 1. 73 parts Irgacure 184 a-hydroxyketone (Ciba Spezialitäten Chemie AG) The samples are prepared and treated and their yellowing measured as described in Example 1. The results are shown in Tables 5 and 6.

Table 5 : b* value according to DIN 6174 without 0. 02% 0. 02% 0. 02% 0. 01% additive toluquinone Comp. 101 Comp. 102 MEHQ+ 0. 1% Comp. 101 1 X 5 m/min 15 min 6. 3 6. 6 6. 3 6. 3 6. 2 4 h 5. 6 6 5. 6 5. 6 5. 5 2X5 m/min 15 min 7.4 7.8 7.4 7.2 7.3 4 h 6. 6 7 6. 6 6. 4 6. 5 4n 6.6 7 6.6 6.4 6.5 30 min 130°C 15 min 4 4.6 4 4.3 3.9 4 h 3. 7 3. 9 3. 4 3. 7 3. 2 MEHQ = hydroquinone monomethyl ether = 4-methoxyphenol Table 6 : b* value according to DIN 6174 without 0. 02% 0. 02% 0. 02% 0. 01 % additive toluquinone Comp. 101 Comp. 102 MEHR+ 0. 1% Comp. 101 1 X 5 m/min 15 min 6 6. 3 6. 1 6. 2 6. 2 4 h 5 5. 3 5 5. 1 5. 1 2X5 m/min 15 min 7.5 7.9 7.6 7.7 7.6 4 h 6. 6 6. 8 6. 6 6. 8 6. 6 30 min 130°C 15 min 3.5 3.7 3.3 3.5 3.4 4 h 3. 5 3. 6 3. 3 3. 4 3. 4 MEHQ = hydroquinone monomethyl ether = 4-methoxyphenol All formulations in Table 6 contain additional light stabilisers : 1. 5% Tinuvin 400 + 1. 0% Tinuvin 292 (% by weight, based on monomer and oligomer).

The storage stability of the stabilised samples in Tables 5 and 6 is more than 3 months at 60°C.

) rgacure@ 819 and trgacure@ 184 are photoinitiators of Ciba Spezialitatenchemie ; Tinuvin@ 400 and Tinuvin@ 292 are light stabilisers of Ciba Spezialitatenchemie ; Comp. 201 is a mixture of Comp. : Comp. : 102 = bis (1-oxy-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl) sebacate (Prostab @5415, Ciba Spezialitäten Chemie)