Mauveine, also known as aniline purple, was the first synthetic organic dye. It was discovered serendipitously in 1856 by an 18-year old William Perkin, who was trying to synthesize the anti-malaria drug quinine as a challenge offered by his professor, August Wilhelm von Hofmann. In one of his attempts to make quinine, Perkin oxidized aniline using chromic acid. Under these conditions, the aniline reacted with toluidine impurities in it to produce a black solid, a fairly common result in "failed" organic syntheses. However, while trying to clean out his flask, Perkin discovered that some component of the black solid dissolved in alcohol to give a purple-colored solution, which proved to be an effective dye for silk and other textiles. Image File history File links Mauveine-A.PNG molecular structure of mauveine A File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Mauveine-B.PNG molecular structure of mauveine B File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Chromaticity diagram. ... Organic chemistry is the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and synthesis of organic compounds that by definition contain carbon. ... Yarn drying after being dyed in the early American tradition, at Conner Prairie living history museum. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Sir William Henry Perkin (March 12, 1838 – July 14, 1907) was an English chemist best known for his discovery, at the age of 18, of the first aniline dye, mauveine. ... Red blood cell infected with Malaria (Italian: bad air; formerly called ague or marsh fever in English) is an infectious disease which in humans causes about 350-500 million infections and approximately 1. ... Molecular structure of quinine Tonic Water containing quinine. ... August Wilhelm von Hofmann (April 8, 1818 _ May 5, 1892) was a German chemist. ... The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ... In chemistry, chromic acid (or Jones reagent) is a chromium (Cr) compound, yet to be isolated, that would have the formula H2CrO4. ... It has been suggested that Para-Toluidine be merged into this article or section. ... Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. ... It has been suggested that Textile manufacturing be merged into this article or section. ...

Perkin patented the new dye and the next year, he opened a dyeworks in London to mass produce it. Mauve became highly fashionable—in 1862, Queen Victoria appeared at the Royal Exhibition in a mauve silk gown. Mauve fell out of fashion in the late 1860s to newer synthetic colors, but not before making Perkin's fortune and birthing the synthetic chemical industry. Later work on chemical dyes also lead to the (accidental) development of modern chemotherapy (see Sulfonamide). A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a state to a person for a fixed period of time in exchange for the regulated, public disclosure of certain details of a device, method, process or composition of matter (substance) (known as an invention) which is new, inventive and... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7. ... Mauve (French form of Malva, mallow) is a pale grayed pink-lilac color, one of many in the range of purples. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819–22 January 1901) was a Queen of the United Kingdom, reigning from 20 June 1837 until her death. ... The term fashion applies to a characteristic means of expression or presentation; fashions may follow trends, in which they gain or lose popularity. ... // Events and trends Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States is built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... Chemical tanks in Lillebonne, France Chemical industry includes those industries involved in the production of petrochemicals, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymers, paints, oleochemicals etc. ... Chemotherapy is the use of chemical substances to treat disease. ... Sulfonamides, also known as sulfa drugs, are synthetic antimicrobial agents derived from sulfonic acid. ...

Incidentally, the actual molecular structure of mauveine proved quite difficult to determine and was not known with certainty until 1994. It is actually a mixture of two related compounds, mauveine A, shown above at right, and mauveine B, which has one additional methyl group. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... In chemistry a methyl-group is a hydrophobic Alkyl functional group which is derived from methane (CH4). ...

References

O. Meth-Cohn, M. Smith, J. Chem. Soc. Perkin 1, 1994, 5-7.