It has a long history, and natural substances were used as dyes in ancient times. Since the development of coking industry, aromatic compounds such as benzene, naphthalene and anthracene have been separated from by-product coal tar, which provides raw materials for the synthesis of dyes, and dye production has gradually developed into an independent industry.
in p>1856, the British chemist W.H.Perkin (1838-197) accidentally discovered a purple dye-aniline violet in the experiment of preparing quinine. In 1857, aniline violet was put into production, which marked the beginning of the synthetic dye industry.
in p>1868, the German chemists C.Graebe (1841-1927) and C.Liebermann (1842-1914) synthesized alizarin. In 188, German chemist A.von Baeyer (1835-1917) registered a patent for the synthesis of indigo. In 191, German chemist R.bohn (1862-1922) synthesized a blue dye-Indanthrene. These three compounds are three milestone inventions in the development of synthetic dye industry.