RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/391,864, filed on July 25, 2022. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to triarylmethane dyes and to the use of the triarylmethane dyes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The family of triarylmethane dyes produce brilliant colors, tunable across broad sections of the visible spectrum. Triarylmethane (TAM) dyes are used widely in producing paper dyes, printing inks, ballpoint pen pastes, food, cosmetics, and a growing range of consumer products. Most known triarylmethane dyes are developed from the central core with the purpose of increasing resistance to decolorization. It is an object of the present invention to provide triarylmethane dyes wherein the extent of the aromatic system and the concomitant optical behavior are controlled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a mass spectrum that corroborates the mass to charge ratio of one embodiment of an acid triarylmethane (TAM) dye molecule according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows the 'H NMR spectra of the acid TAM dye and confirms the atomic structure of the dye.

Fig. 3 further confirms the atomic structure of the acid TAM dye compound via 'H NMR by assigning the proton shifts observed in the spectra to the molecule.

Fig. 4 shows the mass spectrum that corroborates the mass to charge ratio of one embodiment of a PEG TAM dye molecule according to the invention. Fig. 5 shows the ^r H NMR spectra of PEG TAM dye compound and confirms the atomic structure.

Fig. 6 further confirms the atomic structure of the PEG TAM dye compound via ^r H NMR by assigning the proton shifts observed in the spectra to the molecule. In the structure shown, one PEG chain shows the proton labeling; the same labeling can be applied to all four PEG chains.

Fig. 7 depicts the UV spectrum of equimolar (25 pM) solutions of Acid Green 9, meta chloro acid triarylmethane, and meta chloro PEG triarylmethane demonstrating a pronounced change in relative absorbance and peak positioning, tabulated in Table 6. The meta chloro acid triarylmethane presents a greener hue than Acid Green 9 in aqueous solution.

Fig. 8 depicts the normalized absorbance at /l _mor vs time graph of 25 pM dye solutions in phosphate buffer (pH=8, 0. 1 M). The plot demonstrates the difference in alkali fastness between Acid Green 9, meta chloro acid triarylmethane, and meta chloro PEG tri arylmethane.

Fig. 9 depicts the normalized absorbance at A _max vs time graph of 1: 1 25 pM unbuffered dye solution and 0.5% H2O2. The graph shows how meta chloro acid triarylmethane is significantly less oxygen fast than its closest related analogue, and meta chloro PEG triarylmethane is even less oxygen fast. Hydrogen peroxide on its own is not a powerful enough oxidant to fade most triarylmethane dyes. Acid Green 9 is susceptible to fast fading by hydrogen peroxide at high pHs only. Fig. 9 shows how, even in a system that is not buffered at an alkaline pH, both meta chloro acid triarylmethane and meta chloro PEG triarylmethane will still fade in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Triarylmethanes are known to practitioners of the art as a class of molecules generally represented by the Formula 1, where any combination of the R groups are aryl groups that may have additional functionalization including but not limited to amino (primary, secondary, or tertiary ), hydroxy, halogens (bromo, chloro, fluoro, iodo), nitro, methoxy, carboxy, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and sulfonic acid. The counter ion, X can be provided from an external molecule or an inner sphere charged group related to any of the R groups.

Formula 1

Due to the resonance that exists within the molecule, the structure of the triarylmethane dye can be depicted in different ways, as shown in Formula 2, wherein structures 1, 1’ and 1” are all equivalent. Based on convention, structure 1 will be used herein.

Formula 2 The present invention provides modified triarylmethane dyes comprising the structure shown in Formula 3

Formula 3 wherein Ri, R2, R3, R4, Rs, Re and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, Ci- Cie alkyl, amino, nitro, methoxy, carboxy, aryl, alkoxy, and sulfonic acid;

Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or alkoxy, provided that at least one of Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ is alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or alkoxy.

In embodiments, Ri, R2, R3, R4, Rs, Re and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C1-C16 alkyl, amino, nitro, methoxy, carboxy, aryl, alkoxy, and sulfonic acid, provided that at least one of Ri, R2, or R3 are halogen.

In one embodiment, modified triarylmethane dyes comprising the structure shown in Formula 4,

Formula 4 wherein

Ri, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C1-C16 alkyl, amino, nitro, methoxy, carboxy, aryl, alkoxy, and sulfonic acid, provided that at least one of Ri, R2, or R3 are halogen;

Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or alkoxy, provided that at least one of Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ is alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or alkoxy.

In embodiments, Ri, R2, R3, R4, and Rs are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C1-C16 alkyl, amino, nitro, methoxy, carboxy, aryl, alkoxy, and sulfonic acid, provided that at least one of Ri, R2, or R3 are halogen.

In any embodiment herein, halogen is selected from fluorine, bromine, chlorine, or iodine. In any embodiment herein, the halogen is fluorine. In any embodiment herein, the halogen is bromine. In any embodiment herein, the halogen is chlorine. In any embodiment herein, the halogen is iodine. In any embodiment herein, the amino is a primary, secondary, or tertiary amino. In any embodiment herein, the amino is a primary amino. In any embodiment herein, the amino is a secondary amino. In any embodiment herein, the amino is a tertiary amino.

In embodiments, only one of Ri, R2, or Rs, is halogen and the other two are hydrogen. In embodiments, when Ri is halogen, R2 and R3 are hydrogen and Ri is selected from fluorine, bromine, chlorine, or iodine. In embodiments, when R2 is halogen, Ri and Rs are hydrogen and R2 is selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. In embodiments, when Rs is halogen, Ri and R2 are hydrogen and Rs is selected from fluorine, bromine, or iodine.

In embodiments, Ry and R5 are hydrogen.

In embodiments, Rs, and R7 are hydrogen.

In one embodiment, modified triarylmethane dyes comprising the structure shown in Formula 4,

Formula 4 wherein

Ri, R2, Rs, are independently selected from hydrogen or halogen, provided only one of Ri, R2, or Rs, is halogen, and provided that, when Ri is halogen, R2 and Rs are hydrogen and Ri is selected from fluorine, bromine, or iodine, when R2 is halogen, Ri and Rs are hydrogen and R2 is selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine, and when Rs is halogen, Ri and R2 are hydrogen and Rs is selected from fluorine, bromine, or iodine; Ry and Rs are hydrogen; and

Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or alkoxy, provided that at least one of Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ is alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or alkoxy.

In embodiments, Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or alkoxy, provided that at least one of Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ is alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or alkoxy.

In embodiments, when Ri is halogen, Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or alkoxy.

As used in any embodiment herein, the term halogen refers to any element in the group containing fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

As used in any embodiment herein, the term “alkyl” describes both substituted or unsubstituted straight and branched carbon chains. Preferred alkyl groups are those containing from one to fifteen carbon atoms (i.e., C1-C15 alkyl), more preferably C1-C10 alkyl, more preferably C1-C5 alkyl. In embodiments, the alkyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1 -methylethyl, butyl, 1 -methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, pentyl, 1 -methylbutyl, 2- methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 1,1 -dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, each of which can be optionally substituted. Preferably, the alkyl is substituted or unsubstituted ethyl. Preferably, the alkyl is unsubstituted ethyl.

As used in any embodiment herein, the term “aryl” or “aromatic group” are used interchangeably to describe either substituted or unsubstituted single-ring or polycyclic ring system. Polycyclic rings may have two or more rings in which two carbons are common to two adjoining rings (“fused” rings) wherein at least one of the rings is aromatic, e.g., the other rings can be cycloalkyls, cycloalkenyls, aryl, heterocycles, and/or heteroaryls. Preferred aryl groups are those containing six to thirty carbon atoms (i.e., C6-C30 aryl), preferably six to twenty carbon atoms (i.e., C6-C20 aryl), more preferably, six to twelve carbon atoms (i.e., Ce- C12 aryl). In embodiments, the aryl comprises six carbon atoms, ten carbons, or twelve carbons. Suitable aryl groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl, biphenyl, triphenyl, triphenylene, tetraphenylene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenalene, phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene, chrysene, perylene, and azulene, preferably phenyl, biphenyl, triphenyl, benzyl sulfonic acid, triphenylene, fluorene, and naphthalene, each of which can be optionally substituted.

As used in any embodiment herein, the term “aralkyl” describes an alkyl group comprised of 1 to 15 carbon atoms that has as a substituent an aromatic group. Additionally, the aralkyl group may be optionally substituted. As used in any embodiment herein, the term “alkoxy” describes any alkyl group bonded to an oxygen group. In embodiments, the alkoxy group includes but is not limited to an ether, ester, amide, carboxylic acid, or alcohol. Also included in this definition are structures featuring periodic insertions of an oxygen atom into a carbon chain of less than 20 carbons atoms and terminated with an alcohol or an alkyl group such as, but not limited to, polyethylene glycol. Preferred alkoxy groups are polyethylene glycol chains, preferably with 1-10 ethylene glycol repeat units, more preferably 2-8 ethylene glycol repeat units. In embodiments, the polyethylene glycol chains contain 5 ethylene glycol repeat units.

In any embodiment herein, Ai, A2, Ar, and A2’ provide a solubilizing group to the structure of formula I. As used herein, the term “solubilizing group” describes a terminal carboxylic acid, sulfonate, benzy l sulfonic acid, ester, or alcohol group introduced to improve solubility in polar solvents (water, alcohol).

Selective halogenation of the dye molecule on the R1-R3 positions alters the electronic structure, making the pi system more susceptible to interruption or cleavage that results in loss of color, effectively modulating the rate of decolorization.

In embodiments, the amine groups can be substituted to create molecules such that: i) Ai and A2 can be the same or can be different; ii) Ai and A2 can be the same or can be different; iii) Ai and Ai can be the same or can be different; iv) A2 and Ai can be the same or can be different; v) A2 and A2 can be the same or can be different; or vi) Ai and A2 can be the same or can be different.

As used herein, the term “optionally substituted” means that the group in question can be substituted at one or more positions by any one or combination of members of the following list: halogen, hydrogen, alkyd, aryl, alkoxy, aralkyl, solubilizing groups.

In any embodiment herein, Ai and Ai are the same and A2 and A2 are the same. In embodiments, Ai and Ai are an alkyl and A2 and A2 are an aryl. In embodiments, Ai and Ai are a C1-C5 alkyl and A2 and A2 are a C6-C12 aryl. In embodiments, Ai = Ai’ = ethyl and A2 = A2’ = benzy l sulfonic acid.

In any embodiment herein, Ai, Ai , A2 and A2 are alkoxy. In embodiments, Ai, Ai , A2 and A2 are polyethylene glycol (PEG). Preferably Ai, Ai , A2 and A2 are independently polyethylene glycol with 1-10 ethylene glycol repeat units. Preferably Ai, Ai , A2 and A2 are independently polyethylene glycol with 2-8 ethylene glycol repeat units. In embodiments, Ai, Ai , A2 and A2 are polyethylene glycol chains containing 5 ethylene glycol repeat units. In embodiments, Ai, Ai , A2 and A2 are all the same.

Non-limiting examples of compounds according to the invention are shown in Tables

1-4.

Table 1

Table 2 Table 3 wherein n is 1-10, preferably 2-8.

Table 4

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials

Acid Green 9 was purchased from TCI chemicals and used without further purification. N-Ethyl-N-benzyl aniline-3’ -sulfonic acid was purchased from AK Scientific. Ethoxylated aniline was purchased from Ethox Chemicals. Halogenated aldehydes and p- toluene sulfonic acid (PTSA) were all purchased from Sigma Aldrich. N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF), ethanol and chloranil were purchased from VWR. Deuterated solvents were purchased from Cambridge Isotope Laboratories Inc. Hydrogen peroxide stock solution was purchased from Evonik and diluted with DI water to 0.5%w/w before use. Synthesis of meta chloro acid triarylmethane

To a 3-neck round bottom flask fitted with a condenser, 2 eq of N-Ethyl-N-benzyl aniline-3’ -sulfonic acid, 1 eq of PTS A and DMF were combined and heated in an oil bath until solids fully dissolved. 1 eq of halogenated aldehyde was added and the mixture stirred overnight to yield the leuco dye. leq of chloranil was added to the crude mixture. After 2.5 hours the round bottom was removed from heat. Solvents were removed in vacuo and the resulting solids were redissolved in methanol and purified by chromatography to yield the pure dye species.

Scheme 1: Example of general reaction scheme.

Synthesis of meta chloro polyethylene glycol (PEG) triarylmethane

In a beaker, 1 eq of ethanol was mixed with 3 eq of water, and the pH of the mixture was adjusted to 0.7 using concentrated HC1. To a 3-neck round bottom flask fitted with a condenser, 2 eq of ethoxylated aniline, 1 eq of halogenated aldehyde were dissolved in the acidic ethanol/water mixture. The mixture was heated and stirred to yield the leuco dye. 1. 1 eq of chloranil was added to the crude mixture. After 18 hours the round bottom was removed from the heat. Solvents were removed in vacuo and the dye was redissolved in methanol and purified by chromatography to yield the pure dye species.

Scheme 2: Example of general reaction scheme for PEG tnarylmethane dyes

Fade Tests

Light absorption measurements were taken with a Shimadzu UV-VIS 19001 spectrometer. Dyes were dissolved in unbuffered DI water to make up 10 mM stock solutions.

To measure dye fade rate in basic conditions, 25 pL of stock dye solution was added to 10 mL of 0.1 M pH=8 potassium phosphate buffer. 3 mL of the pH=8 diluted dye solution were then pipetted into a clean quartz cuvette and inserted into spectrometer. Absorbance intensity at lambda max was measured every second for 400s for each of the dyes studied.

To measure dye sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide, 25 pL of stock dye solution was added to lOmL of DI water. 1.5 mL of dilute stock solution was added to a clean quartz cuvette. To the same cuvette added 1.5 mL of 0.5% w/w hydrogen peroxide solution. Cuvette was then briefly vortexed to ensure even mixing and loaded into spectrometer. Absorbance intensity at lambda max was measured every second for 400 s for each of the dyes studied.

NMR characterization

^X H NMR samples were dissolved in Methanol D-4 and scans were acquired using a 300 MHz NMR.

Mass Spectrometry

Mass characterization data was acquired with a high-resolution mass spectrometer. Results

Meta chloro acid triarylmethane was shown to have the theorized mass and structure via 'H NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry (Fig. 1- Fig. 3 and Table 5 (below)).

Meta chloro PEG triarylmethane was shown to have the theorized mass and structure via 'H NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry (Fig. 4- Fig. 6 and Table 6 (below)).

In solution, both meta chloro acid triarylmethane and meta chloro PEG triarylmethane were a greener shade of blue than Acid Green 9. Fig. 7 and Table 7 (below) depicts a clear shift in absorbance maximum and relative absorbance intensities between meta chloro acid triarylmethane, meta chloro PEG triarylmethane and Acid Green 9. Such a difference in the absorption spectrum would likely correspond to a change of perceived color in solution.

Meta chloro acid triarylmethane and meta chloro PEG triary lmethane both showed decreased stability in alkaline pH when compared to Acid Green 9. A pH=8, 25 pM solutions of both meta chloro acid triarylmethane and meta chloro PEG triary lmethane showed considerable fading in a 400 s time window, whereas Acid Green 9 in the same conditions showed negligible fading (Fig. 8 and Table 8 (below)).

Meta chloro acid triarylmethane and meta chloro PEG triary lmethane both showed an increased rate of fading in hydrogen peroxide when compared to Acid Green 9. Unbuffered solutions of both meta chloro acid triarylmethane and meta chloro PEG triary lmethane showed considerable fading in a 400 s time window when combined with 0.5%w/w hydrogen peroxide. Acid Green 9 showed negligible fading in the same time window when combined with such low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (Fig. 9 and Table 9 (below)).

Table 5 NMR peak assignments for meta chloro acid triarylmethane dye

Table 6 NMR peak assignments for meta chloro PEG triarylmethane dye Table 7 Lambda max position and absorbance values for meta chloro acid triarylmethane dye and Acid Green 9

Table 8 Fade rate at lambda max of 25 uM dye solution in pH=8 buffer

Table 9 Fade rate of 25 uM dye combined with 0,5% hydrogen peroxide

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.