The present invention relates to novel mono- or polynuclear melamine compounds and their use as dispersants for pigments and fillers in coating compositions, in particular in solvent-borne coating compositions. The mono- or polynuclear melamine compounds of the invention have at least one 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine ring, wherein at least one amino groups of at least one of the 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine rings of the mono- or polynuclear melamine compounds is of the formula A:NR1R2 (A) where R1 is H, CH(R3)OR4 or R2, R2 is CH(R3)O(A-O)x—R5, where R3 is H, C1-C10-alkyl or aryl; R4 is H, C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl; R5 is a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; x is an integer from 2 to 500, having on average a value in the range from 2.5 to 400; A is an C2-C4-alkan-1,2-diyl radical.