The foundations of the chemical dyestuffs industry were laid in 1856
when W. H. Perkin discovered the dye Mauveine. At approximately the same
time modern chemistry was establishing itself as a major science. Thus,
the chemistry of dyes became that branch of organic chemistry in which
the early scientific theories were first used. This early eminence has
now been largely lost. In fact, many of our academic and teaching
institutions pay little attention to this vitally important branch of
organic chemistry. We believe that this book will help to rectify this
unfortunate situation. The majority of books that have been published on
the subject of dyes have been technologically biased and, in our
opinion, do not appeal to the mainstream organic chemist. We have,
therefore, aimed at producing a book which emphasises the role of
organic chemistry in dyestuffs and we have included appropriate modern
theories, especially the modern molecular orbital approaches. We have
assumed that the reader possesses a knowledge of the basic principles of
organic chemistry;* the only other requirement is a general interest in
organic chemistry.** The book should interest the newcomer to
chemistry, the established academic, and the dyestuffs chemist himself.