Diethyl (ethane, propane, butane)dioates were transesterified each with citric acid, e.g., conc. sulfuric acid (0.01 mol) and citric acid (2 mols) were added to 1 mol (COOEt)(2) at 115-120degreesC for 30-60 min. Volatiles (EtOH) were driven off and the trans-ester (m. > 40degreesC) was dissolved in H2O (50%) and used (60 g crosslinker/L; 6 g NaH2PO2 as catalyst) to crease- and shrinkproof a cotton fabric in a Benz two-roll padder at room temp. The fabric was squeezed, dried 5 min at 100degreesC. and crosslinked at 140-145degreesC for 300 s. At 135-145degreesC, the reaction time was 10-15 min, but the product was dark brown and its ester number was inferior. As the diester's inter-COOH alkyl chain length is increased, the trans-ester becomes more effective, presumably because the carboxyls become more accessible to active centers of cellulose. Diethyl butanedioate afforded the crosslinkers showing highest ester numbers and producing highest angles of unstressing in the fabrics examined.