The most important distinguishing characteristic of reactive dyes is that they form covalent bonds with the substrate that is to be colored during the application process. Thus, the dye molecule contains specific functional groups that can undergo addition or substitution reactions with the OH, SH, and NH2 groups present in textile fibers.
Cross and Bevan first succeeded in fixing dyes covalently onto cellulose fibers (in 1895) [1], but their multistep process was too complicated for practical application. Early work by Schroter with sulfonyl chloride-based dyes was unsuccessful [2], but Gunther later did succeed in fixing derivatives of isatoic anhydride onto cellulose fibers [3].
An alternative approach is to modify the fibers themselves and then introduce the coloration. For example, cellulose can be reacted with 4-nitrobenzyldimethyl- phenylammonium hydroxide or 3-nitrobenzyloxymethylpyridinium chloride, followed by reduction, diazotization, and coupling to a dye [4]. Another process, invented by Haller and Heckendorn, involves treating the cellulose with cyanuric chloride in an organic solvent and then treating the product with an amino group containing dye [5].
The first industrially important reactive dye systems were developed for wool, and took advantage of the chloroacetylamino [6] and the chloroethanesulfonyl groups [7]. Vinylsulfonyl — and 2-sulfooxyethanesulfonyl groups were found to be applicable to both wool and cellulose. Heyna and Schumacher patented some of the first dyes of this type in the 1940s [8,9], and vinylsulfone dyes continue to be of great importance.
The dyes described in [8] entered the market for wool in 1952 under the trade name Remalan, followed a year later by the Cibalan dyes from Ciba-Geigy, which contained monochlorotriazinyl reactive groups [10]. In 1953 Rattee and Stephen
were able to fix chlorotriazine-containing dyes onto cellulose in basic, aqueous solvents, representing an economic breakthrough for the reactive dye concept [11].
Introduction of the Procion-MX dyes by ICI in 1956 was followed in 1957 by the appearance of the Remazol dyes from Hoechst and the Cibacron dyes from Ciba-Geigy. The year 1960 brought the Levafix dyes from Bayer and the Drima — ren range from Sandoz. Other significant developments included the introduction of multiple-anchor dyes (Solidazol, Cassella, 1975; Sumifix-Supra, Sumitomo, 1981), fluorotriazine-containing reactive dyes (Ciba-Geigy, 1978), and fluorotria- zine-containing multiple-anchor dyes (Ciba-Geigy, 1988).
The development of reactive dyes has continued to be rapid.