Synthesis, application and antibacterial activity of new reactive dyes based on thiazole moiety

Purpose This study aims to synthesise and characterise new reactive dyes based on thiazole derivatives which act as chromophoric moieties. These dyes were applied to cotton fabric, resulting in the dyed fabrics exhibiting good colour strength, light fastness and other fastness properties. The antibacterial activity of the dyed cotton fabric was evaluated against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Design/methodology/approach The dyes were synthesised in two steps. First, the coupling compound was formed by adding H-acid solution to cyanuric chloride in an ice bath at pH 5 then adding 4-aminobenzenesulphonic acid portion-wise at room temperature and at pH 6-7. Second, different diazonium salts 4-phenylthiazol-2-amine (2a) and 4-(4-methoxyphenyl) thiazol-2-amine (2b) were coupled with the coupling compound at pH 5. The resultant monochlorotriazine (MCT)-reactive dyes (6a, 6b) were formed. The synthesised dyes were applied onto cotton fabric under typical exhaust dyeing conditions and their dyeing properties were investigated. Findings High antimicrobial activity, dye exhaustion and fixation yield on cotton fabric were recorded for each dye. All dyes showed high stability against washing, rubbing, perspiration and light fastness. Research limitations/implications Dyeing of cotton fabric with these dyes which have higher fastness, higher exhaustion and higher antibacterial activity is considered one of the most important reactive dyes species. Practical implications The preparation procedure showed the synthesis of the novel MCT-reactive dyes derived from thiazole derivatives followed by the application of these dyes on cotton fabrics. Social implications Use of reactive dyes will bring a number of benefits to society including higher fastness and higher antibacterial activity so, and these dyes can be used for dyeing cotton. Originality/value In this work, the new reactive dyes derived from thiazole derivatives were synthesised and their structures were confirmed by the analytical and spectral data. Such compounds are considered to be excellent reactive dyes with different colour shades and higher antibacterial activity.