Coloring of the Organic Materials With Naphthacenequinones

This invention relates to a method for the coloring of the organic materials with the naphthacenequinone derivatives.

Hitherto it has been scarcely known to use naphthacenequinone derivatives as dystuff, except it is described that the sulfonated compounds obtained by treating the naphthacenequinone derivatives with concentrated sulfuric acid can be used as the acid dye for wood (for example: Journal of the chemical Society Vol. 91, 411 - 435 (1907)). Furthermore, from the fact that these derivatives are not described in "Colour Index, 2nd Edition (1956) and its Supplement (1963)" edited by the Society of Dyers & Colourists and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colourists and in "The Chemistry of Synthetic Dyes, Vol. I & II (1952) and Vol. III (1970)" written by K. Venkataramann, etc., it is obvious that the naphthacenequinone derivatives have not been used at all as dyestuff on sale. We, inventors, as a result of the intensive colorant test of the organic materials on the naphthacenequinone derivatives which hitherto known only as the intermediates for dyestuffs, disclosed that the compounds of the formula (I), defined later on, colored the organic high molecular weight compounds in brilliant nuance with characteristic fluorescence, and thus completed the invention.

Besides, .alpha.-aminoanthraquinone, the most important intermediate for reddish disperse anthraquinone dye, is produced at present by amination of anthraquinone-1-sulfonic acid obtained by sulfonation of anthraquinone under the presence of mercury catalyst. Recently, it has been intensely demanded to avoid the environment pollution by mercury of chemical industry. In contrast, the naphthacenequinone derivatives used in this invention can be obtained without using mercury and can color in more brilliant nuance than the anthraquinone derivatives. Therefore, we think that the industrial merit of this invention is great.

This invention relates to the method of coloring an organic material with the naphthacenequinone derivative having the formula: ##STR2## wherein X is a member selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl group, --OR", --SR", amino group and --NHR" wherein R" is a member selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl group and phenyl group which may be optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of methyl group, lower alkoxy group, lower alkylthio group and halogen atom, Y is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, chlorine atom, hydroxyl group, lower alkoxy group, lower alkylthio group, phenoxy group which may be optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of methyl group, methoxy group and chlorine atom, thiophenyl group which may be optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of methyl group, lower alkoxy group and chlorine atom, amino group, lower alkylamino group the alkyl group of which may be optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl group, lower alkoxy group and lower alkylthio group, benzylamino group, phenylsulfonylamino group the phenyl group of which may be optionally substituted with lower alkyl group, lower alkyl sulfonylamino group, cyclohexylamino group, phenylamino group the phenyl group of which may be optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl group, lower alkoxy group, lower alkylthio group and chlorine atom, methyl group, cyclohexyl group and benzyl group, R and R' each is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom, chlorine atom, methyl group, methoxy group and phenyl group, R and R' may together form a benzene ring.

Organic materials which can be colored according to the present invention include any synthetic or semisynthetic high molecular weight compound which can be practically used as fibrous article, film, extrudate, casting or molded article including synthetic or semisynthetic resin such as amino-formaldehyde resin, for example, urea-formaldehyde or melamine-formaldehyde resin, polymer and copolymer of methacrylic acid ester, polymer and copolymer of vinyl chloride, polymer and copolymer of vinyliden chloride, polymer and copolymer of olefin, for example, polyethylene and polypropylene, styrene polymer and copolymer, polyamide resin, polyester resin, polyacrylic resin, polyacetal resin and cellulose ester.

The compounds of the formula (I) used in this invention are well known, for example, the compound of the formula (II) is obtained under the description of Journal of the Chemical Society Vol. 91, p. 416 - 417 as follows: ##STR3## The compounds of the formula (I) having alkoxyl group and like, are obtained from halogen substituted compounds by the action of alkali alcoholates and like, for example, from the compound of the formula (III) and sodium methylate the compound of the formula (IV) is obtained: ##STR4## Also, using substituted phthalic anhydrides and naphthols, the compounds of the formula (V) are obtained: ##STR5## For example, the compound of the formula (VIII) is obtained from 4-methylphthalic anhydride (VI) and 4-Chloro-1-naphthol (VII): ##STR6## Therefore, it has no need to describe the synthesizing method of the compounds of the formula (I) specifically.

We, inventers, as a result of the intensive examinations on the compounds of the formula (I) as the colorants of the organic materials, disclosed that the compounds of the formula (I) colored the organic high molecular weight compounds in brilliant nuance ranging from yellow to blue shades with fluoroscence and that the light fastness of colored articles was excellent.

In table I, the typical examples of the compounds used for this invention are shown although the present invention is not limited thereto. The shade of a polyester fabric dyed therewith using a dyeing procedure such as that described in Example 1 or 2, is specified.

Organic materials can be easily colored with the compounds of the formula (I) by any ordinarily practiced method. For example, fibrous materials, such as yarns and fabrics, can be colored by fixing it, at 50.degree. to 140.degree. C., in aqueous medium by the conventional exhausting method or at a proper temperature (e.g. 100.degree. to 200.degree. C.) consistent with the type of fiber using dry heat by the conventional thermosol method.

Further, when the organic material to be colored is a film, coating, casting or a molded or extruded article, it can be colored by adding and mixing the compounds of the formula (I), i.e., resin or polymer, from which it is made during its preparation or before or during the forming of the substance into a film, coating, casting or a molded or extruded article. Also, a resin-based pigment having yellow or red fluorescent color can be obtained by mixing the compounds of the formula (I) into the resin or polymer or other properly selected organic materials in molten form.

The following examples are presented in which all parts are on a weight basis and the compound No. refers to the compounds described in Table I.

1 part of Compound No.23 (6-hydroxy-11-aminonaphthacenequinone-5, 12) was ground together with 0.5 part of sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate type of alkylaryl-polyoxyethylene ether type surface active agent and 2 parts of water for a sufficient time to provide a finely granulated powder which was diluted with water to provide 10 parts of a finely granulated aqueous dispersion. 2 parts of this dispersion were added to aqueous bath containing 1 part of a higher alcohol sulfate type surface active agent to provide 500 parts of treating bath. 10 parts of polyester cloth was immersed in this treating bath maintained at 130.degree. C. for 40 minutes and was water-washed and dried. The obtained dyed cloth showed a clear pink color having an orange fluorescence and its light-fastness was higher than the 5th grade (JIS L 0842-1971). Similarly, dyed cloth showing similar color, having similar fluorescence and light fastness was obtained by using, instead of Compound No.23 mentioned above, Compound No.24, 26 and 27 respectively.

1 part of the finely granulated sample of Compound No.1 (6-hydroxynaphthacenequinone) obtained in the same manner as described in example 1, was dispersed in 20 parts of water containing 0.04 part of a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether type surface active agent.

A polyester cloth was dipped in this aqueous dispersion and impregnated with the dispersion at a pick up of 40 - 50%. This treated cloth was dried, heat treated at 180.degree. C. for 1 minute, washed with a dilute surface active agent solution and was water-washed and dried to provide a dyed cloth of clear yellow color having a yellow fluorescence and excellent light fastness.

Similarly, dyed cloth showing similar color, having similar fluorescence and light fastness was obtained by using, instead of Compound No.1 mentioned above, Compound No.2, 5, 6, 12 and 13 respectively.

In the same manner as described in example 1, instead of the polyester cloth, a polyamide cloth is treated at 98.degree. C. and a acetate cloth is treated at 80.degree. C. to obtain respectively the same effect as obtained in example 1.

A uniform mixture consisting of 0.1 part of 6, 11-dihydroxynaphthacenequinone-5, 12, 50 parts of polyvinylchloride and 50 parts of dioctyl phthalate was kneaded at 150.degree. C. for 10 minutes and was then pressed for 5 minutes between metal plates heated to 160.degree. C. to make a sheet of a thickness of about 0.5 mm.

The obtained sheet showed a clear orange color emitting a yellow fluorescence.

Similarly, colored sheet showing clear yellowish color, emitting similar fluorescence was obtained by using, instead of the above mentioned compound, Compound No.50 and 51 respectively.

20 parts of an unmodified melamine formaldehyde resin were mixed into 50 parts of a sulfonamide resin melted at 120.degree. C. The resulting mixture was heated to 170.degree.- 180.degree. C. and 1 part of Compound No.49 (2,3-benzo-6-hydroxy-11-aminonaphthacenequinon-5, 12) was mixed into the mixture. The mixture was completely dissolved, then cooled, solidified and then crushed to obtain a red fluorescence pigment emitting an orange fluorescence.

Similarly, pigment showing similar color, emitting similar fluorescence was obtained by using, instead of Compound No.49 mentioned above, Compound No.23, 33 and 36 respectively.

1 part of Compound No.43 (6-amino-11-anilinonaphthacenequinone-5, 12) was added to 1000 parts of polystyrene, kneaded at 180.degree. C. for a few minutes and was then pressed to a plate 5 mm. thick.

The obtained polystyrene plate showed a violet color emitting a red fluorescence.

Similarly, colored plate showing similar color, emitting similar fluorescence was obtained by using, instead of Compound No.43 mentioned above, Compound No.30, 44, 45 and 46 respectively.