This invention relates to the use of lactamide compounds of formula (I): CH3CH(OH)C(&boxH；O)NR1R2, where R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen； or C1-6 alkyl, C2-6 alkenyl or C3-6 cycloalkyl, each of which is optionally substituted by up to three substituents independently selected from phenyl, hydroxy, C1-5 alkoxy, morpholinyl and NR3R4 where R3 and R4 are each independently C1-3 alkyl； or phenyl optionally substituted by up to three substituents independently selected from C1-3 alkyl； or R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl or azepanyl ring, each of which is optionally substituted by up to three substituents independently selected from C1-3 alkyl, in formulations to reduce the toxicity associated with other formulation components； to the use of certain lactamide compounds as solvents, especially in formulations, particularly in agrochemical formulations and in environmentally friendly formulations； to novel lactamide compounds； and to processes for preparing lactamide compounds.
