Reichardt's dye

Reichardt's dye (Betaine 30) is an <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic</a> <a href="/facts/Dye/a1NSlcsG">dye</a> belonging to the class of azo<a href="/facts/Merocyanine/gNLpEv4B">merocyanine</a> <a href="/facts/Betaine/3sG11tpp">betaines</a>. This dye is notable for its <a href="/facts/Solvatochromism/EAoYgJrj">solvatochromic</a> properties, meaning it changes color depending on the <a href="/facts/Solvent/LoMPMz8S">solvent</a> in which it is dissolved. It has one of the largest solvatochromic effects ever observed, with color varying across the entire <a href="/facts/Visible_spectrum/frPBh8o5">visible spectrum</a>. As a result, it gives striking visual results for chemical <a href="/facts/Demonstration_(teaching)/UQXtnMHe">demonstrations</a>.

This chemical is named for Christian Reichardt [de], who developed it when working as a doctoral student in the lab of Karl Dimroth [de]. It is thus also sometimes called Dimroth–Reichardt dye. The names also sometimes refer to some close chemical analogs, in particular, the one having <a href="/facts/Arene_substitution_pattern/ByM7Y1b9">para</a> substituted <a href="/facts/Tert-butyl/fbTF0UkI">tert-butyl</a> groups on the phenyl rings.

Reichardt's dye open-in-new

Reichardt's dye