Reactive dye compounds

Abstract

A reactive dye compound comprising: (a) at least one chromophore moiety; (b) at least one nitrogen-containing heterocycle; (c) a linking group to link each chromophore moiety to each nitrogen-containing heterocycle; characterised in that at least one nitrogen-containing heterocycle is substituted with at least one Y group wherein Y is a phosphonate or a borate derivative. The compounds herein have high Exhaustion Values (E), high Fixation Values (F) and high Efficiency Values (T) and show significant improvements in terms of reducing spent dyestuff in effluent, increasing dye affinity to the substrate, increasing the dye-substrate covalent bonding, increasing the ability to dye substrates at room temperature, decreasing the amount of dye that is removed during the post dyeing 'soaping off process' and therefore simplifying the post dyeing 'soaping off process' traditionally associated with dyeing cotton with fibre reactive dyes and reduction of staining of adjacent white fabrics. In addition, the compounds prepared above provide more intense dyeings and require less levels of salt for dyeing cotton substrates.