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Title:
REACTIVE DYES CONTAINING A LINKAGE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2000/008104
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A reactive disazo dye has the formula (I) D?1¿-Y-D?2¿ wherein each of D?1¿ and D?2¿ independently is a chromophore of formula (II) in which X is fluorine, chlorine or optionally substituted pyridinium; an SO¿3?H is present in the 5- or 6- position of the naphthalene nucleus; n is zero or 1; and -Y- is (a); or (b) in which: Z is a C¿5-12? aliphatic or aromatic cyclic hydrocarbon group, optionally additionally containing at least one hetero atom selectted from N, O and S optionally substituted by at least one C¿1-4? alkyl and SO¿3?H (or a salt thereof); or at least two said cyclic hydrocarbon groups linked together; or a C¿1-15? alkylene or C¿2-15? alkenylene chain, which chain optionally additionally contains, and/or is substituted by, other atoms or groups; and each of R?1¿, R?2¿ and R?3¿, independently, is a C¿1-4? alkyl, hydroxy-C¿1-4? alkyl or amino-C¿1-4? alkyl group or each of R?1¿ and R?2¿, together with the respective nitrogen atoms to which they are attached and the chain Z therebetween, forms a heterocyclic group or one of R?1¿, R?2¿ and R?3¿, together with (i) the nitrogen atom to which it is attached, (ii) the substituent group on the chain Z and (iii) the chain length between the said nitrogen atom and the said substituent group, forms a heterocyclic group; and Y is other than (c) or a sulphonic acid salt of the dye of the formula (I).

Inventors:
EBENEZER WARREN JAMES (GB)
MYNETT DONNA MARIA (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB1999/002447
Publication Date:
February 17, 2000
Filing Date:
July 26, 1999
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
BASF AG (DE)
EBENEZER WARREN JAMES (GB)
MYNETT DONNA MARIA (GB)
International Classes:
C09B62/04; C09B62/09; D06P1/382; D06P3/66; (IPC1-7): C09B62/09
Domestic Patent References:
WO1993018224A11993-09-16
Foreign References:
EP0458743A21991-11-27
EP0625551A11994-11-23
DE2001960A11970-07-30
EP0818513A11998-01-14
Other References:
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 012, no. 015 (C - 469) 16 January 1988 (1988-01-16)
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Coleiro, Raymond (Mewburn Ellis York House 23 Kingsway London WC2B 6HP, GB)
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Claims:
CLAIMS :
1. A dye of the formula (I) Dl ~ y ~ DZ wherein each of Dl and D2 independently is a chromophore of the formula (II) in which X is fluorine, chlorine or optionally substituted pyridinium ; an SO3H is present in the 5 or 6 position of the naphthalene nucleus ; n is zero or 1 ; and in which : Z is a Cs12 aliphatic or aromatic cyclic hydrocarbon group, optionally additionally containing at least one hetero atom selected from N, 0 and S and optionally substituted by at least one of C1~4 alkyl and SO3H (or a salt thereof) ; or at least two said cyclic hydrocarbon groups linked together ; or a C1ls alkylene or C21s alkenylene chain, which said chain (a) optionally additionally contains, so as to be interrupted or terminated by, at least one of (1) at least one hetero atom selected from N, 0 and S and (2) at least one Cs12 aliphatic or aromatic cyclic hydrocarbon group, which said cyclic hydrocarbon group (2) optionally additionally contains at least one hetero atom selected from N, 0 and S and is optionally substituted by at least one of Ci. 4 alkyi and SO3H (or a salt thereof) ; and (b) is optionally substituted by C14 alkyl, hydroxyC14 alkyl, aminoC14 alkyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl or amino, which amino group or moiety is optionally substituted by one or two C14 alkyl groups, or by a substituent group which, together with (i) one of Rl, R2 and R3 (each defined below), (ii) the nitrogen atom to which Rl, R2orR3 is attached and (iii) a chain length of Z between the said nitrogen atom and the substituent group, forms a heterocyclic group ; and each of RI, R2 and p, 3, independently, is a C14 alkyl, hydroxyC14 alkyl or aminoC14 alkyl group or each of R1 and R2, together with the respective nitrogen atoms to which they are attached and the chain Z therebetween, forms a heterocyclic group or (as defined above) one and, together with (i) the nitrogen atom to which it is attached, (ii) the said substituent group on the chain Z and (iii) the said chain length between the said nitrogen atom and the said substituent group, forms a heterocyclic group ; and Y is other than or a sulphonic acid salt of the said dye of the formula (I).
2. A dye according to claim 1, wherein Z is nonreactive.
3. A dye according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein n is 1.
4. A dye according to any preceding claim, wherein the group SO3H attached to the aminobearing ring of the naphthalene nucleus is substituted in the 6position thereof.
5. A dye according to any preceding claim, wherein Z is a Ci. io alkylene chain optionally substituted by at least one group selected from C14 alkyl, hydroxy and carboxyl groups.
6. A dye according to claim 5, wherein the Ciio alkylene chain is free from any hetero atom.
7. A dye according to claim 6, wherein the alkylene chain is a C28 alkylene chain which is unsubstituted or substituted by at least one group selected from methyl, hydroxy and carboxyl.
8. A dye according to claim 7, wherein the alkylene chain is [CHZ] X, wherein x is 2 or 3, which alkylene chain is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two methyl groups or hydroxy or carboxyl groups and each of R1, R2 and R3 independently is selected from hydrogen, C14 alkyl and hydroxyethyl.
9. A dye according to claim 8, wherein Y is selected from <BR> <BR> NHC2H4NH ; NHC3H6NH ; NHCH (CH3) CH2NH ; NHC2H4N (CH3) NHC3H6N (CH3) ; <BR> <BR> NHCH2CH (OH) CH2NH ; NHC2H4N (C2H40H) ; NHC (CH3) 2CH2NH ; NHC3H6N (C2H40H) ; <BR> <BR> NHC2H4S ; NHC2H4N (C2H5) ; N (CH3) C2H4N (CH3) ; NHC3H6N (C3H7) ; N(C2H4OH)C2H4N(C2H4OH); HNCH(CO2H)CH2S and N [CH (CH3) 2] CH (CH3) CH2NH.
10. A dye according to claim 7, wherein Y is NHC6H12NH.
11. A dye according to claim 5, wherein the C1l0 alkylene chain additionally contains at least one hetero atom selected from 0 and N.
12. A dye according to claim 11, wherein Y is selected from NHC3H6N (CH3) C3H6NH, NCH2H4OC2H4NH and NHC2H4OC2H4OC2H4NH.
13. A dye according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein Z is a phenylene group, which phenylene group is unsubstituted or substituted by a sulphonic acid group and one or more methyl group (s).
14. A dye according to claim 13, wherein Y is selected from :.
15. A dye according to claim 3, wherein the C1l0 alkylene chain additionally contains at least one phenylene group.
16. A dye according to claim 15, wherein Y is selected from :.
17. A dye according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein Z is a Clls alkylene chain and is substituted by a substituent group which, together with (i) one of R, R2 and R3, (ii) the nitrogen atom to which R1, R2 or R3 is attached and (iii) a chain length of Z between the said nitrogen atom and the substituent group, forms a heterocyclic group.
18. A dye according to claim 17, wherein the C1ls alkylene chain is interrupted by a nitrogen atom, which nitrogen atom carries the substituent group.
19. A dye according to claim 18, wherein Y is an iminoC14 alkylpiperazinyl group.
20. A dye according to claim 17, wherein Y is selected from :.
21. A dye according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein Z is an aliphatic cyclic hydrocarbon.
22. A dye according to claim 21, wherein Y is.
23. A dye according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein Z is a C1l5 alkylene chain containing an aliphatic or aromatic cyclic hydrocarbon group, which group contains at least one hetero atom.
24. A dye according to claim 23, wherein Y is wherein n is 2 or 3.
25. A method of preparing a dye of the formula (I), given and defined in claim 1, which method comprises allowing at least one reactive disazo dye of the formula (II) wherein X and n are as defined in claim 1 and X1 is a fluorine, chlorine or optionally substituted pyridinium group, to react with a diamine or thioamine of the formula wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 and Z is as defined in claim 1, at a pH of from 7 to 10, in a proportional amount of two moles of reactive disazo dye (II) per mole of diamine or thioamine (III) or (IV).
26. A method according to claim 25, which includes the preliminary step of preparing the reactive disazo dye of the formula (II) by reacting a disazo dye of the formula (V) wherein n is zero or 1, with a triazine of the formula wherein each of X, X1 and XZ independently is chlorine, fluorine or optionally substituted pyridinium.
27. A process for the colouration of a substrate, which process comprises applying to the substrate, at a pH above 7, a dye according to any one of claims 1 to 24.
28. A process according to claim 27, wherein the dye is applied to the substrate by exhaust dyeing, padding or printing.
29. A process according to claim 28, wherein the dye is applied to the substrate by exhaust dyeing at a temperature of from 80 to 105°C.
30. A process according to claim 29, wherein the exhaust dyeing is carried out at a temperature of 85°C to 95°C.
Description:
REACTIVE DYES CONTAINING A LINKAGE This invention relates to reactive dyes having a bridging group between triazinylamino groups each attached to a chromophore.

GB-A-1283771 and EP-A-0625551 disclose respective general ranges of reactive dyes of the formula (A) (A) where D is a chromophore (which in the case of GB-A-1283771 is specifically a naphthylazo-phenylene or -naphthalene containing at least 3 sulphonic acid groups and in the case of EP-A-0625551 is any of a wide range of chromophores), R is H or an optionally substituted C14 alkyl group and X specifically a linking group which, in the case of GB-A-1283771, is an aromatic group selected from phenylene, diphenylene and naphthalene nuclei, and in the case of EP-A-0625551 is an aliphatic linking group, the group - NHXNH- forming a bridging group between receptive triazine nuclei. The dyes of GB-A-1283771 offer a degree of fixation over a wide range of liquor to goods ratios and provide shades of very good light fastness, while those of EP-A-0625551 show good fastness and build up properties.

JP-A-62-172062 discloses a wide range of dyestuffs in which chromophores are linked by the specific group wherein Y is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl and Z is the reactive group -CH=CH2 or -CH2CH2OSO3H.

One of many examples of dyes disclosed has the following formula In our WO-A-99/05224, we describe a range of dyes in which the bridging group is derived from an aminoalkyl piperazine, which dyes have the formula (B)

wherein : each of R1, R2, R3 and R4, independently, is H or an optionally substituted alkyl group ; each of X1 and X2, independently, is a labile atom or group ; each of x and y, independently, is 0 or 1 and at least one of x and y is 1 ; each of a and b, independently, is 2 to 5 ; z is zero or is 1 to 4 ; and when each of x and y is 1, a > b ; the or each R5, independently, is alkyl ; and each of D1 and D2, independently, is a monoazo or polyazo chromophore, or a metallized derivative thereof.

We have found surprisingly that if, in dyes of the above formula (A), the chromophore D is a particular disazo dye, defined below, then such dyes, especially when used for exhaust dyeing of cellulosic materials, can exhibit excellent all-round fastness properties and build-up and compatibility with other dyes whose preferred exhaust temperature is 80°C or, more preferably, above.

Thus, according to one aspect, the invention provides a dye of the formula (I) 1 - Y - D2 (I) wherein each of D'and D'independently is a chromophore of the formula

in which X is fluorine, chlorine or optionally substituted pyridinium ; an SO3H is present in the 5- or 6- position (preferably the 6- position) of the naphthalene nucleus ; n is zero or 1 (preferably 1) ; and in which Z is a Cs12 aliphatic or aromatic cyclic hydrocarbon group, optionally additionally containing at least one hetero atom selected from N, 0 and S and optionally substituted by at least one of C1~4 alkyl and SO3H (or a salt thereof) ; or at least two said cyclic hydrocarbon groups linked together ; or a C, -15 alkylene or C2. -15 alkenylene chain, which said chain (a) optionally additionally contains, so as to be interrupted or terminated by, at least one of (1) at least one hetero atom selected from N, 0 and S and (2) at least one C5-12 aliphatic or aromatic cyclic hydrocarbon group, which said cyclic hydrocarbon group optionally additionally contains at least one hetero atom selected from N, 0 and S and is optionally substituted by at least one of C14 alkyl and SO3H (or a salt thereof) ; and (b) is optionally substituted by C14 alkyl, hydroxy-C14 alkyl, amino-C14 alkyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl or amino, which amino group or moiety is optionally substituted by one or two C14 alkyl groups, or by a substituent group which, together with (i) one of R1, R2 and R3 (each defined below), (ii) the nitrogen atom to which R1, R2 or R3 is attached and (iii) a chain length of Z between the said nitrogen and the substituent group, forms a heterocyclic group ; and each of R1, R2 and R3, independently, is a C14 alkyl, hydroxy- C14 alkyl or amino-C14 alkyl group or each of Rl and R2, together

with the respective nitrogen atoms to which they are attached and the chain Z therebetween, forms a heterocyclic group or (as defined above) one of R1, R2 and R3, together with (i) the nitrogen atom to which it is attached, (ii) the said substituent group on the chain Z and (iii) the said chain length between the said nitrogen atom and the said substituent group, forms a heterocyclic group ; and Y is other than (and preferably contains no reactive group) ; or a sulphonic acid salt of the said dye of the formula (I).

When X is a substituted pyridinium, preferred substituents are 3-carboxyl, 3-carbonamido and 4-carboxyl.

In one preferred range of dyes, Z is a Ci-io alkylene chain optionally substituted by at least one group selected from C14 alkyl, hydroxy and carboxyl. Such chains may be free from any hetero atom or may contain additionally at least one hetero atom selected from 0 and N. More preferably, the chain is a C28- alkylene chain which is unsubstituted or substituted by at least one group selected from methyl, hydroxy and carboxyl. Still more preferably the chain is of the formula [CH2]. wherein x is 2 or 3, which alkylene chain is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two methyl groups or a hydroxy or carboxyl group and each of R1, R2 and R3 independently is selected from hydrogen, C14 alkyl and hydroxyethyl.

Examples of the group Y in which Z is a Cio alkylene chain optionally substituted by at least one of C14 alkyl, hydroxy and carboxyl are HNC2H4NH; HNC3H6NH; HNC4H8NH; HNC5H10NH; HNC6H12NH; HNC8Hl6NH; HNC2H4N(CH3); HNC3H6N(CH3); HNC2H4N(C2H4OH); HNC2H4N(C3H6OH); HNC3H6N(C2H4OH); HNC2H4N(C2H5); HNC2H4N(n-C3H7); HNC3H6N(C2H5); HNC3H6N (n-c3H7); (H3C) NC2H4N (CH3) (H3C) NC3H6N (CH3) ; (H3C) NCH4N (CZHS) ; <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> HNCzH4NH [CH (CH3) 2] ; (HSC2) NCZHQN (CzHs) ; HNCZHQNH [CH (CH3) (CzHs)] ; HNC2H4N (n-C4H9) ; HNC2H4N [CH2 CH (C, 43) (OH)] ; HNCH (CH3) CH2NH ; HNC (CH3) 2CH2NH ; HNCH2CH (OH) CH2NH ; HNCH2C (CH3) 2CH2NH ; HNCH (C2H5) CH2NH ; HNCH2CH (CH3) C3H6NH ; HNCH2CH (CH3) N [CH (CH3) 21 ; NHCH2C (CH3) 2CH [CH (CH3) 2] NH ; HNC2H4S and HNCH (CO2H) CH2S .

Examples of the group Y in which Z is a C1l0 alkylene chaln additionally containing a hetero atom are HNC3H6N(CH3) C3H6NH; HNC2H4OC2H4OC2H4NH; and HNC2H4OC2H4NH.

The C1l0 alkylene chain of Z may additionally contain an aliphatic or aromatic ring structure and examples of the group Y in which Z is such a chain are :

where n is 2 or 3, which is an example of the group Y in which Z is Ci-io alkylene chain interrupted by an aliphatic ring containing at least one hetero atom. Of these groups, are especially preferred.

Especially preferred examples of the group Y in which Z is a Cl-10 alkylene chain are NHC2H4NH ; NHC3H6NH ; NHCH (CH3) CH2NH ; NHC2H4N (CH3) ; NHC3H6N (CH3) NHCH2CH (OH) CH2NH; NHC2H4N (C2H40H); NHC(CH3)2CH2NH; NHC3H6N(C2H4OH); NHC2H4S; NHC2H4N(C2H5), N(CH3) C2H4N (CH3) ; NHC3H6N (C3H7) ; N (C2H40H) C2H4N (C2H40H) ; HNCH (C02H) CH2S ; N [CH (CH3) 2] CH (CH3) CH2NH ; HNC6Hl2NH ; HNC3H6N (CH3) C3H6NH ; HNC2H4OC2H4NH ; and HNC2H4OC2H4OC2H4NH.

In another preferred range of dyes, Z is a phenylene group, optionally substituted by a sulphonic acid group or one or more methyl group (s). Examples of the group Y in which Z is a phenylene group are :

or mixtures thereof, for example, a mixture of In yet another preferred range of dyes Z is a C1ls alkylene chain and is substituted by a substituent group, preferably a C1l0 alkylene group, which, together with (i) one of R1, R2 and R3, (ii) the nitrogen atom to which R1, R2 or R3 is attached and (iii) a chain length of Z between the said nitrogen atom and the substituent group, forms a heterocyclic group. More preferably, the C1ls alkylene chain is interrupted by a nitrogen atom which carries the substituent group, for example, in the case where Y is an imino-C1l4 alkylpiperazinyl group. Examples of Y in which the group Z includes a heterocyclic ring formed in this manner are : In another preferred range of dyes, each of R1 and R2, together with the respective nitrogen atoms to which they are attached and the chain Z therebetween, form a heterocyclic group, more preferably a piperazine group.

A dye of the formula (I), given and defined above, can be prepared by a method aspect of the invention, which method comprises allowing at least one reactive disazo dye of the formula (II)

wherein X and n are as defined above and X1 is a fluorine, chlorine or optionally substituted pyridinium group, to react with a diamine or thioamine of the formula wherein each of R1, R2, R3 and Z is as defined above, at a pH of from 7 to 10, in a proportional amount of two moles of reactive disazo dye (II) per mole of diamine or thioamine (III) or (IV).

The reaction may take from 1 - 12 hours.

The reactive disazo dye of the above formula (II) can be prepared by reacting a disazo dye of the formula (V) with a triazine of the formula wherein each of X, Xland Xz independently is chlorine, fluorine or optionally substituted pyridinium.

The disazo dye of the formula (V) may be prepared by firstly diazotising 4-acetylamino-2-aminobenzene sulphonic acid and coupling in acid conditions (pH of 2) onto a hydroxynaphthylamine of the formula and secondly diazotising 2-aminonaphthalene-1,5-disulphonic acid and coupling in neutral conditions (pH of 7) onto the hydroxynaphthylamine. Thereafter, removal of the acetyl protecting group of the amino group meta to the azo linkage yields the disazo dye of the formula (V).

Although dye formulae have been shown in the form of their free acid in this specification, the invention also includes dyes and processes using dyes in the salt form, particularly their salts with alkali metals such as the potassium, sodium, lithium or mixed sodium/lithium salt.

The dyes may be used for dyeing, printing or ink- jet printing, for example, of textile materials and paper.

The process for colouration is preferably performed at a pH of 7. 1 to 13, more preferably 10 to 12. pH levels above 7 can be achieved by performing the process for colouration in the presence of an acid-binding agent.

The substrate may be any of a textile material, leather, paper, hair or film, but is preferably a natural or artificial textile material containing amino or hydroxyl groups, for example textile material such as wool, silk, polyamides and modified polyacrylonitrile fibres, and more preferably a cellulosic textile

material, especially cotton, viscose and regenerated cellulose, for example, that commercially available as Tencel. For this purpose the dyes can be applied to the textile materials at a pH above 7 by, for example, exhaust dyeing, padding or printing. Textile materials are coloured bright shades and possess good fastness to light and wet treatments such as washing.

The new dyes are particularly valuable for colouring cellulosic textile materials. For this purpose, the dyes are preferably applied to the cellulosic textile material at a pH above 7 in conjunction with a treatment with an acid-binding agent.

Preferred acid-binding agents include alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, metasilicates and mixtures thereof, for example, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium metasilicate, sodium hydroxide and the corresponding potassium salts. The dyes benefit from excellent build-up and high fixation.

At least for cellulosic materials, dyeing may be carried out at a temperature of from 80 to 105°C, preferably 85 to 95°C, still more preferably at about 90°C, a somewhat higher temperature as compared with dyeing carried out with conventional monochlorotriazine exhaust dyes which are generally dyed at temperatures of about 80°C. By operating at this temperature, particularly improved migration is obtained.

The new dyes can be applied to textile materials containing amine groups, such as wool and polyamide textile materials, from a neutral to mildly alkaline dyebath. The dyeing process can be carried out at a constant or substantially constant pH, that is to say the pH of the dyebath remains constant or substantially constant during the dyeing process, or if desired the pH of the dyebath can be altered at any stage of the dyeing process.

The dyes may be in liquid or solid form, for example in granular or powdered form.

We find surprisingly that such dyes provide the following advantageous properties : a) good all-round fastness ; b) exceptionally good build-up, especially at a dyeing temperature of 90°C ; c) very strong dyeing ; d) exceptionally good robustness to changes in dyeing conditions, especially temperature, pH and, in particular, dyebath liquor to substrate ratio, leading to overall excellent shade reproducibility ; e) good wash off ; f) good fixation ; g) good aqueous solubility ; and h) good compatibility with other dyes of this type.

Especially preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following Examples in which all parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise stated. Although preparation and dyeing with any single dye is exemplified, particular advantages can be seen when dyeing with mixtures of dyes.

Example 1 An aqueous solution of sodium 4-acetylamino-2- aminobenzenesulphonate (0. 75 mole) and sodium nitrite (390 ml 2N) was added to stirred ice (1 kg) containing concentrated hydrochloric acid (150 ml) over 30 minutes maintaining the temperature below 5°C. Excess nitrite was decomposed with 10% sulphamic acid solution. An aqueous solution of the sodium salt of H-acid (0. 5 mole in 600 ml) was added slowly to the well-stirred diazonium salt solution over 45 mins below 5°C at pH 2. The mixture was stirred below 5°C for 2 h, and then allowed to warm to

room temperature overnight. The intermediate (A) was screened off and dried to a damp paste at 40°C.

(B) T = acetyi (C) T = H (D) T = 2, 4-dichloro-1, 2, 5-triazin-6-yl Ac = acyl An aqueous solution of sodium 2-aminonaphthalene-1, 5- disulphonate (0. 12 mole in 200 ml water) and sodium nitrite (60 ml 2N) was added to stirred ice (200g) containing concentrated hydrochloric acid (30 ml) over 30 minutes maintaining the temperature below 5°C. Stirring was continued for a further 30 mins when excess nitrite was decomposed with 10% sulphamic acid solution. Intermediate (A) (ca O. lmole) in water (800 ml) was treated with sufficient concentrated NaOH solution to ensure solution and cooled to below 5°C. This was added in a steady stream to the diazonium solution below 5°C whilst the pH gradually rose to 4 when coupling commenced. After 2 h at pH 4 below 5°C the pH was raised to 7 and the solution stirred overnight whilst warming to room temperature. The solution was filtered, the filtrate concentrated, and treated with methylated spirit to precipitate intermediate (B). This could be purifie by redissolving in water and re-precipitating.

The protecting acetyl group was removed from intermediate (B) (0. 1 mole) by hydrolysis with KOH (112g) in aqueous solution at 55°C for 2. 5h. The alkaline solution was neutralised with hydrochloric acid and concentrated to give successive crops of deacetylated intermediate (C). This (0. 0262 mole) was dissolved in water (600 ml) and cooled to below 5°C and then treated with excess cyanuric chloride (5. 08g ; 0. 0275 mole) dissolved in acetone. The well-stirred mixture was maintained at pH 6-6. 5 for 2h, after which insolubles were filtered off. The filtrate (containing 0. 0131 mole dye (D) ) was stirred with ethylenediamine (0. 4g ; 0. 00655 mole) overnight at pH 10. The pH was then adjusted to 7 and the reaction mixture concentrated. Addition of methylated spirit precipitated the product (1 ; below) as a blue powder, which could be purified by dialysis. As can be seen from Table 1, this had Ama = 616nm,e = 86500,1/2-band width (HBW) = 117nm, and dyed cotton a greenish- navy shade with excellent all-round fastness properties.

(1) L = N HC2H4N H

Examples 2-30 By replacing the ethylenediamine of Example 1 by an alternative diamine or mercaptoalkylamine, LH2, analogues of (1) differing in the nature of the linking group, L, have also been prepared, as listed in Table 1.

Table 1 Example L in structure Shade on "ax nm max HBw nm number 1 cotton 1 NHC, H, NH greenish 616 86, 500 117 navy 2 1,3-NHC6H4NH greenish 616 83, 200 123 navy 3 greenish 613 91, 000 117 N NC H NH navy X 2 4 4 NHC3H6NH greenish 617 91, 100 116 navy 5 NHCH (Me)CH2NH greenish 615 88, 900 114 navy 6 NHC2H4N(Me) greenish 616 82, 700 117 navy 7 NHC3H6N(Me) greenish 616 100, 200 112 navy 8 NHCH2CH (OH) CH2NH greenish 616 91, 500 114 navy 9 1,4-NHC6H4N(Me) greenish navy

10 1,4-NHC5H4CH2NH greenish 616 88,200 109 navy 11 greenish 616 83, 900 117 navy H 12 NHC2H4N (C2H, OH) greenish 616 89, 900 116 navy 13 NHC (Me) 2CH2NH greenish navy 14 NHC, H, N (C2H, OH) greenish 616 89, 600 113 navy 15 NHC2H, S greenish 615 90, 100 123 navy 16 1, 3-NHC6H4CH2N (Me) greenish navy 17 NHC6Hl2NH greenish navy 18 NHC2H, N (C2H,) greenish navy 19 NHC3H6N (Me) C3H6NH greenish 622 108, 400 110 navy 20 greenish N N navy U

21 1, 4-NHC5H4NH greenish navy 22 N (Me)C2H4N(Me) greenish navy 2 3 NHC2H4OC2H4NH greenish navy 24 greenish navy HN \H 2 5 NHC3H5N ( C3H7 ) greenish navy 26 N (CZHQOH) CZH4N (CZHQOH) greenish navy 27 NHC2H4(OC2H4)2NH greenish navy 28 greenish HN<SO3H navy NH 29 HNCH ( CO2H ) CH2S greenish navy 30 N (i-Pr) CH (Me)CH2NH greenish navy 31 (Et)NC2H4N(Me) greenish 616 104, 700 113 navy 32 HNC2H, N (C3H7) greenish 616 99,900 113 navy Examples 33 - 62 Each of the dyes prepared in Examples 1-32 was applied to cotton by exhaust dyeing at 90°C at a liquor : goods ratio of 10 : 1 and in the presence of salt and soda ash. In each case, the dye was found to have excellent build-up, extremely high fixation efficiency and good all round fastness properties.