Substituted benzophenones are disclosed having the following formula ##STR1## where R.sub.A and R.sub.B are each independently COOH, C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 linear or branched alkyl or taken together to form an anhydride ring, R is nitro or amino unsubstituted or substituted with at least one C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 linear or branched alkyl, phenyl or substituted phenyl, the substituents being one or more C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 linear or branched alkyl or C.sub.6 to C.sub.10 aryl, Y and Y' are the same or different and are a chemical bond ##STR2## and m is 0 or 1 with the proviso that both R.sub.A and R.sub.B can not be hydrogen. Processes to produce these benzophenones are also disclosed.