How was the first artificial dye made? | 16-18 years

In these activities a directed activity related to text (DART) describes the making of mauve, the first artificial aniline dye, as a setting for organic synthesis. Students compare Perkin’s original patent with a more modern technique, identifying the compounds and methods involved.

These activities will work within a series on aromatic chemistry, providing an historical context for work on reactions of benzene and developing reaction pathways, as well as exploring practical constraints.