Azo compound

General chemical structure of azo compounds
"Azene" redirects here. Not to be confused with the polycyclic hydrocarbons known as "acenes" or the acyclic saturated hydronitrogens known as "azanes".

Azo compounds are organic compounds bearing the functional group diazenyl (R−N=N−R′, in which R and R′ can be either aryl or alkyl groups).

IUPAC defines azo compounds as: "Derivatives of diazene (diimide), HN=NH, wherein both hydrogens are substituted by hydrocarbyl groups, e.g. PhN=NPh azobenzene or diphenyldiazene.", where Ph stands for phenyl group.[1] The more stable derivatives contain two aryl groups. The N=N group is called an azo group (from French azote 'nitrogen', from Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-) 'not' and ζωή (zōē) 'life').

Many textile and leather articles are dyed with azo dyes and pigments.[2]

  1. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "azo compounds". doi:10.1351/goldbook.A00560
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference TFL was invoked but never defined (see the help page).