Compounds of Formula I or Formula II ##STR1## where A is an electron withdrawing group and B is a secondary or tertiary amino group or the group OD where D is H, aryl or an aliphatic group are made by reacting a corresponding compound of Formula Ia or Formula IIa ##STR2## in a solvent with a reagent selected from organic primary and secondary amines and compounds of the formula MOD where M is an alkali metal and A and D are as defined above. In this process the nitro group and the group B in Formula I and Ia are in the 2- or 4- position and the compounds of Formula I, Ia, II and IIa may optionally be further substituted. Preferably a primary or secondary amine is reacted with a compound of formula Ia, preferably using dimethylformamide as solvent. The process can result in the production of novel compounds, including (1) Compounds of Formula III wherein each group A is CO.sub.2 H or an alkali metal, amine or ammonium salt thereof or the two groups A together form a carboxylic anhydride group and B is in the 2- or 4-position and is OD, where D is hydrogen or an aliphatic group or is a secondary or tertiary amine group, (2) compounds of Formula IV ##STR3## where B is the group OD or the group NR.sub.2 R.sub.3 and wherein at least one of R.sub.1 and D or at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 comprise a solubilizing group containing a primary amino, carboxylic, sulphonate or phosphate ester group in the form of an alkali metal, amine or ammonium salt or is a polyalkylene oxide group, the compounds optionally being further substituted.