Use of ester amide compound (I) or its mixture, as solvent or coalescence agent, is claimed. Use of ester amide compound of formula (R 1>OOC-A-CONR 2>R 3>) (I) or its mixture, as solvent or coalescence agent, is claimed. R 1> : optionally cyclic, aromatic 1-36C hydrocarbon either R 2>, R 3> : optionally cyclic, aromatic 1-36C hydrocarbon (optionally substituted) or R 2>+R 3> : optionally substituted ring comprising optionally a heteroatom and A : 2-12C, preferably 2-4C divalent alkyl. Independent claims are included for: (1) the ester amide compound (I) with the exception of 2-ethyl-N,N-dimethyl-succinamic acid methyl ester, N,N-dimethyl-succinamic acid methyl ester, 4-dimethylcarbamoyl-butyric acid methyl ester, 4-dimethylcarbamoyl-3-methyl-butyric acid methyl ester, N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-succinamic acid ethyl ester, N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-succinamic acid methyl ester, mixture of N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-succinamic acid phenyl ester and 4-diethylcarbamoyl-butyric acid phenyl ester, N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-succinamic acid 1-methoxy-ethyl ester, N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-succinamic acid cyclohexyl ester, N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-succinamic acid phenethyl ester, N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-succinamic acid p-tolyl ester, mixture of 2,N,N-triethyl-succinamic acid propyl ester, 4-diethylcarbamoyl-2-methyl-butyric acid propyl ester and 5-diethylcarbamoyl-pentanoic acid propyl ester, and 4-butylcarbamoyl-3-methyl-butyric acid methyl ester and (2) the preparations of (I).
