Novel tri-functional triazines for the modification of cellulosic fibers are prepared from cyanuric chloride. The compounds employ a monochlorotriazinyl (MCT) anchor group for fixation, an active substance showing slow release properties, and a reactivity tuner to facilitate release control. While the compounds are completely stable under dry conditions, the active substances are released simply by surrounding humidity. The reagents offer intriguing perspectives for the preparation of modified cellulosics for single-use application in fields such as healthcare, cosmetics, or personal hygiene. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.