Generalized Pentagon Equations

Drinfeld defined the Knizhinik--Zamolodchikov (KZ) associator $\Phi_{\rm KZ}$ by considering the regularized holonomy of the KZ connection along the {\em droit chemin} $[0,1]$. The KZ associator is a group-like element of the free associative algebra with two generators, and it satisfies the pentagon equation. In this paper, we consider paths on $\mathbb{C}\backslash \{ z_1, \dots, z_n\}$ which start and end at tangential base points. These paths are not necessarily straight, and they may have a finite number of transversal self-intersections. We show that the regularized holonomy $H$ of the KZ connection associated to such a path satisfies a generalization of Drinfeld's pentagon equation. In this equation, we encounter $H$, $\Phi_{\rm KZ}$, and new factors associated to self-intersections, to tangential base points, and to the rotation number of the path.