School of Chemistry and Chemical Technology University of Bradford Bradford West Yorkshire BD7 1DP
The synthesis of a series of 2′, 4′, 6′‐trisubstituted derivatives of 4–N–β–hydroxyethyl–4– N–β–cyanoeth ylaminoazobenzene is reported, and the effect of the nature of the substituents on the colour, dyeing and fastness properties of these dyes is described. The dyes coloured synthetic–polymer fibres well, with the exception of those containing a methylsulphonyl group, which gave weaker dyeings on polyester. Dyes substituted by 2′‐nitro groups tended to have poor light fastness, and reasons for the variations in the light fastness of monoazo dyes of this type are discussed.