Cross Conjugated Chromophores Based On Indigo Typed

The majority of dyes belong to the chromophoric class known as donor-acceptor systems, the essential structural feature of such systems being the presence of one or more electron donating groups conjugated to one or more electron withdrawing groups via an unsaturated bridge. The indigo molecule may be formally divided into two identical electron donor/acceptor subsystems, each containing an add number of pi electrons, two subsystems being joined by carbon-carbon double bond. Indigoid type dyes which show a strong colour change on protonation or dissociation have many potential functional applications, for example as analytical pH indicators, solvent polarity indicators, and in various imaging and reprographic systems.