mauveine

Mauveine, also known as aniline purple, is the first synthetic organic dye to be marketed. It was discovered in 1856 by William Henry Perkin in London, during experiments aimed at synthesizing quinine from coal-tar derivatives. A crude purple pigment formed in the reaction mixture and proved capable of coloring textiles.

The compound was produced commercially as a vivid purple dye and quickly sparked a surge of interest in synthetic dyes. Mauveine is not a single compound but a family of closely related dyes, originally identified as mauveine A, B, C, and D. They are derived from aniline-type precursors and assembled in the reaction products obtained from coal tar derivatives, making it one of the first successful examples of large-scale organic synthesis.

Applications included coloring silk, wool, cotton, and paper. The novelty and affordability of mauveine helped fuel the so-called mauve age in the 1850s and 1860s. Over time, mauveine's lightfastness and shade variability led to its decline in professional dyeing as newer, more stable synthetic dyes were developed.

Legacy: The discovery of mauveine is widely regarded as a turning point that launched the modern chemical and textile dye industries. It demonstrated the commercial viability of synthetic chemistry and spurred subsequent discoveries in coal-tar derivatives, eventually leading to a wide range of synthetic dyes and pigments.