Modification of cellulose with tetrasulfatoesters of disulfonium salts

The invention comprises compounds having the general formula wherein A represents a radical having one of the following formulae:- p represents one of the whole numbers 1 to 4, q represents one of the whole numbers 2 to 4, r represents one of the whole numbers 2 to 4, s represents one of the whole numbers 0, 1 or 2 and M\s3 represents an alkali metal or ammonium ion. They may be obtained by reacting a dichloride of the formula Cl-A-Cl with twice the molar amount of b -hydroxyethylmercaptan with elimination of HCl to give HO-CH2-CH2-S-A-S-CH2-CH2-OH, reacting this compound with twice the molar amount of b -chloroethanol, and esterifying the compound of the formula with H2SO4, ClSO3H or oleum and subsequently neutralizing the product with an alkali. An example is given for the preparation of the compound of the formula The products are suitable for crease-proofing textile materials containing reactive hydrogen atoms (see Division D1).ALSO:Textile materials of fibre forming substances containing reactive hydrogen atoms are finished by treating the material in any sequence with a solution of a sulphur-containing organic compound of the general formula:- wherein A represents a radical having one of the following formulae:- p represents one of the whole numbers 1 to 4, q represents one of the whole numbers 2 to 4, r represents one of the whole numbers 2 to 4, s represents one of the whole numbers 0, 1 or 2 and M\sJ represents an alkali metal or ammonium ion (see Division C2 for preparation); and with an alkaline reacting substance. Conventional crosslinking resin finishing agents and also acid or potentially acid catalysts may be used in the process-Polymer dispersions or solutions may be added to aqueous solutions of compounds of the above formula which may also contain conventional cross-linking finishing agents. Specified polymer dispersions being homopolymers and copolymers of acrylic esters or polyethylene. Specified polymer solutions are polyacrylamide solutions. Softening agents may also be added. Examples are given for the treatment of textiles with compounds of the above formula.