The use of compounds of the general formula I in aqueous binder-containing formulations, wherein the variables are each as defined as follows: R1 is selected from C1-C20-alkyl, straight chain or branched, or CO—C1-C19-alkyl or CO—C2-C19-alkenyl, straight chain or branched, R2 in each occurrence is the same or different and selected from C1-C3-alkyl, R3 is selected from C1-C20-alkyl, straight chain or branched, or CO—C1-C19-alkyl or CO—C2-C19-alkenyl, straight chain or branched, x is from 0 to 20, y is from 0 to 20, provided x and y are not both zero, a is from 1 to 3.