The synthesis of several u.v. absorbers of the 2(2-hydroxyphenyl)2H-benzotriazole category is reported. The compounds are of three types : 2(2-hydroxyphenyl)2H-benzotriazoles with one or two substituents located in the benzotriazole moiety of the molecule; 2(2-hydroxyphenyl)2H-benzotriazoles with a substituent in the hydroxy-containing phenyl part of the molecule; and a naphthalene derivative. Syntheses of the 2(2-hydroxyphenyl)2H-benzotriazoles were carried out by the diazotization of a 2-nitroaniline derivative followed by reduction and cyclization, yielding the products in moderate yield. The characterization of the products was carried out by i.r., u.v. and C-13 n.m.r. spectroscopy, and included the determination of their molecular weights by elemental analysis and potassium ionization of desorbed species.