Heterocyclic azo dyes, like all azo dyes, can be divided into three categories according to the number of azo groups in the same molecule as monoazo, diazo and polyazo dyes.
3.1. Heterocyclic Monoazo Dyes
In 1999, Towns gave an overview of the progress made with heterocyclic diazo components over the past decade [
12]. This paper reports on the applications to textiles of heteroazo dyes consisting of five-membered rings containing a sulfur heteroatom to which a diazotizable amino group is directly attached. These compounds are divided into four groups based on the heteroaromatic amine used for diazotization: Thiazoles
1 and Benzothiazoles
2, Isothiazoles
3 and Benzisothiazoles
4, Thiadiazoles
5a-5b and Thiophenes
6 (
Figure 7).
Towns reported that most of the numerous patents filed in the last ten years have mostly been the result of modifications and improvements to existing products, with no real innovation in molecular structures. He also said that the search for brighter and more economical dyes was still ongoing and predicted that disperse dyes from heterocyclic components would be explored in the coming years.
A few years later, the synthesis and application of novel heterocyclic dyes based on a new fused heterocyclic compound, ll-amino-3-bromo-13h-acenaphtho[l,2-e]pyridazino[3,2-b]-quinazoli-ne-13-one, was reported [
13]. A series of new azo dyes (
7a-k) were synthesized by diazotization of this heterocyclic amino compound and coupling with various naphthols (
a-k), leading to the general structure shown in
Figure 8.
Specifically, these dyes were synthesized by diazotization with sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid, and coupling was carried out in a moderately alkaline medium at 0-5 °C. After characterization, the dyes were applied as azo dyes to nylon 66 and polyester fibers, resulting in a variety of shades ranging from pink to red and brown. The differences in the shades of the dyed fibers are due to the type and position of the substituent.
The analysis showed that the dyes on both substrates had fairly good to good light fastness and very good to excellent fastness to washing, rubbing, perspiration and sublimation, while the percentage exhaustion of the dye bath was better on nylon 66 than on polyester, probably due to the better accessibility of the open structure.
In 2010, the same authors reported the synthesis, characterization and application of another series of heterocyclic mono-azo reactive dyes (8a-g), which were synthesized by coupling diazotized 2-phenyl-3{4’-[(4”-aminophenyl)sulfonyl]phenyl}-quinazolin-4(3H)-one-6-sulfonic acid with various 2-chloro-4-nitro-anilino-cyanurate coupling components [
14], with the general structure shown in
Figure 9.
The 2-chloro-4-nitro anilino cyanurated coupling components used are: H-acid (a), Gamma acid (b), J-acid (c), N-methyl-J-acid (d), N-phenyl-J-acid (e), Chicago acid (f), and Laurant acid (g).
When applied to silk, wool and cotton fabrics, the dyes obtained cover almost the entire visible range and generally produce yellow to violet shades. The differences in the color shades of the dyed fabric result from the change in the coupling components.
All dyes (8a-g) generally show moderate to good light fastness properties, while the fastness to washing and rubbing is very good to excellent. The presence of a quinazolinone structure in all dyes results in high color strength, as the quinazolinone structure exhibits intrinsic conjugation leading to excellent color strength. The heteroatoms in the dye structure lead to bathochromaticity and brightness of shades. The exhaustion and fixation properties are good for all dyes, although the introduction of a triazine group improves both properties.
The same authors have published many articles on this type of research, in which they have tested not only the fastness property but also the antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi [
15,
16], which is a new trend in this field, as people's lives have improved and consumers are aware of a hygienic lifestyle and ask for textile products that do not cause toxicity, allergy or irritation to the users [17-19].
For example, a recent paper reported on the synthesis of new antibacterial dyes for fabric printing [
20]. In this work [
21], three new azo dyes (9a-c) with sulfonamide chromophores were used to dye polyester fibers via azo coupling with nucleophilic precursors (
Figure 10).
The analytical results showed that the fastness properties and color evaluation of the printed samples exhibited moderate to excellent results in washing, rubbing, perspiration, sublimation fastness and light fastness. Antibacterial activity was tested against four bacterial species (
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) for the new dyes, but also for the printed fabrics after washing, using ampicillin as a reference, which is normally considered a standard antibacterial agent [
22]. The diameter of the inhibition zone (mm/mg sample) as a measure of antibacterial activities was measured for all samples and the results are shown in
Table 1 and
Table 2. From the results, it can be seen that the dyes
9a and
9b containing sulfate groups showed higher antibacterial activity against all types of bacteria. On the other hand, the dyed polyester fabrics showed moderate antibacterial activity, which in this case was also higher in the samples printed with
9a and
9b, showing that the antibacterial properties of the dyes were transferred to the corresponding dyed textile samples.
Figure 10.
The general structure of dyes 9a-c.
Figure 10.
The general structure of dyes 9a-c.
These inexpensive, easy-to-synthesize biologically active dyes could be used to sterilize textiles for future applications.
3.2. Heterocyclic Diazo Dyes
Diazo dyes, which contain two groups –N=N-, are divided into three groups depending on the synthesis method used for their production [
23]:
Primary diazo dyes
This type of dyes is synthesized by a coupling reaction of two moles of diazoic acid with the same coupling term. An example, a brown dye used for dyeing wool, is shown in
Figure 11a).
Secondary symmetrical diazo dyes
This type of dye is derived from a diamine that is diazotized twice and copulated with the same or different terms. An example, a blue direct dye with a benzidine function, is shown in
Figure 11b).
Secondary asymmetrical diazo dyes
This type of dye is synthesized by the coupling of an amino azoic acid with a phenolic coupler.
Figure 11c) shows an example, an orange direct dye.
Although a patent [
24] for the use of heterocyclic diazo dyes was granted as early as 1954, only a few studies [25-26] were conducted in the literature in comparison with the monoazo compounds untill 2005. In that year, Karci reported the synthesis of ten novel disazo dyes derived from various heterocyclic coupling components and aminomethylphenylazo pyrazoles [
27]. The entire synthesis process begins with the preparation of nitrile 10, then pyrazoles
11a-b, which are finally used for the synthesis of disazo dyes
12 a-j (
Figure 12).
All disazo compounds
12a-j may exhibit keto–enol tautomerism due to the functional groups highlighted in red in
Figure 12. The tautomeric forms for compounds
12a-b are showen in
Figure 13 as an example. In the particular case of dyes, tautomerism is important not only because the two tautomeric forms can have different color, but also different tinctorial strengths and properties [
28,
29,
30]. From the data of the infrared spectra of compounds
12a-j it appears that some of them are predominantly in the hydrazone–keto form in the solid state, while other in the azo–enol form.
Instead, the 1H NMR spectra in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) show that compounds 12a-d are present as a mixture of tautomeric forms, whereas in 12e-j the single tautomeric form predominates.
The effect of solvent and acid or base on the wavelength of the absorption maximum (λ
max) was also investigated. It was found that the absorption spectra of dyes 12i-j show a maximum at a longer wavelength than those of dyes 12a-h in all solvents used. In addition, a bathochromic shift was observed for dyes 12c and 12e compared to the analogous dyes 12d and 12f in all solvents tested, while the other analogs showed very similar λ
max, but only in DMSO and dimethylformamide (DMF). These results led to conclude that for the dyes 12a, 12c, 12e, 12g and 12i there could be a tautomeric equilibrium between the pyrazole ring and the phenylazo group at 1-H (
Figure 14).
In conclusion, the authors report that all dyes 12a-j can be applied to polyester and/or polyamide fibers as disperse dyes.
Another important aspect studied over the years is the color yields obtainable by modifying the position of the substituents on the heteroatomic rings. In particular, for example, in a 2016 article a study on 6 novel pyrazole diazo disperse dyes (13a-c, 14a-c,
Figure 15), substituted with methyl (-CH
3) group at their o-, m-, p-position, is reported [
31]. Their synthesis carried out according to the literature procedures [27, 32-33] (
Figure 12 and
Figure 15) and the studies of their application to 3 different synthetic fibers, at certain dyeing conditions are described.
All synthesized dyes were characterized by elemental analysis and spectral methods and then tested on different fibers. The fibers used for the evaluation were: Polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6) fibers.
The colorimetric properties, yield and fastness parameters of all fiber samples dyed with the novel synthesized disperse dyes were described and compared. Yellow and orange shades were obtained on PLA, PET and PA 6.6 fibers by applying 2% of all dyes. With the dyes 13a-c (K/S >10) predominantly darker shades were achieved and with the dyes 14a-c (K/S <10) medium-dark shades. In addition, due to the different molecular weights, the exhaustion and color yield of 13a-c dyes (lower molecular weight) are higher than those of 14a-c dyes. Differences between the dyes resulting from the position of the methyl group were also observed: The color yield of all tissues dyed with 13b and 14b dyes (meta-methyl auxochrome) had the darkest hue compared to the other dyes (ortho- and para-methyl auxochrome). The darkest shade was observed in PLA tissue dyed with 14a (p-CH3). The yield of all dyes was over 76 %, with the exception of the PET fiber fabric dyed with 14c, where the yield was 67 %.
The colorimetric properties, yield and fastness parameters of all fiber samples dyed with the novel synthesized disperse dyes were described and compared. Yellow and orange shades were obtained on PLA, PET and PA 6.6 fibers by applying 2% of all dyes. With the dyes 13a-c (K/S >10) predominantly darker shades were achieved and with the dyes 14a-c (K/S <10) medium-dark shades. In addition, due to the different molecular weights, the exhaustion and color yield of 13a-c dyes (lower molecular weight) are higher than those of 14a-c dyes. Differences between the dyes resulting from the position of the methyl group were also observed: The color yield of all tissues dyed with 13b and 14b dyes (meta-methyl auxochrome) had the darkest hue compared to the other dyes (ortho- and para-methyl auxochrome). The darkest shade was observed in PLA tissue dyed with 14a (p-CH3). The yield of all dyes was over 76 %, with the exception of the PET fiber fabric dyed with 14c, where the yield was 67 %.
The fastness values (wash fastness, acid and alkaline perspiration fastness, wet and dry rubbing fastness, sublimation fastness, light fastness, water fastness and seawater fastness) were in the commercially acceptable range, which means that the dyeing of PLA, PET and PA 6.6 with the dyes 13a-c and 14a-c is suitable for the textile industry.
3.3. Heterocyclic Polyazo Dyes
Polyazo dyes are complex dyes characterized by the fact that the azo group is repeated three or more times in the same molecule. They are intended for dyeing leather in the colors red, brown and dark black [
34]. The presence of multiple -N=N groups increases conjugation and enhances the delocalization of electrons. They also appear to be more stable, as the more azo groups present in the dye, the less likely it is to degrade; in general, monoazo or diazo dyes are more degradable than polyazo dyes [
34].
There are few studies in the literature on the use of heterocyclic polyazo dyes in general, but especially with regard to their use for dyeing textiles.
In 2022, a paper was published on the synthesis and characterization of a novel heterocyclic polyazo dye, but the authors refer to its application as a universal acid-base indicator [
35]. The authors also reported that the polyazo dyes can find numerous practical applications, but there is no mention of their use as dyes for tissues [36-39].
In any case, an article published in 2011 [
40] reports on the synthesis of various natural trisazo dyes. Arylazopyridone dyes have been intensively synthesized as disperse dyes since the seventies of the 20th century. One of them, the trisazo pyridone dye shown in
Figure 16, is used to dye polyamide materials such as nylon 6.